North Topsail Beach tides today
- Tide now 1.3 ft ↑ rising · high 9:42 pm (4.3 ft)
- Best time tomorrow 3:50–5:50 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach day 4:00–6:00 pm Poor beach day · 4/10
- Waves · water 4.3 ft · 68 °F moderate · 6.5 s from the east
- Wind · air 9 mph · 72 °F from the NE, gusts 20 · mainly clear
- Sun 7:26 am–6:20 pm 10 h 54 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 8:07 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:07 pm
- Diving tomorrow 9:40–11:00 am good day · 8/10
- Small Craft Advisory: winds or seas hazardous to small boats. Until Fri 30, 12:00 am. NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
- Coastal Flood Advisory: minor flooding along the shore at high tide. Until 2:00 pm tomorrow. NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Today in North Topsail Beach there are high tides at 9:24 am (6.2 ft) and 9:42 pm (4.3 ft) and low tides at 2:45 am and 3:51 pm. Tide coefficient 88. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 9:42 pm. The sun rises at 7:26 am and sets at 6:20 pm: 10 h 54 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:07 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:45 am to 3:45 am and from 2:17 pm to 4:17 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is moderate, with 4.3 ft waves. There's a gentle breeze from the northeast (9 mph). Mainly clear, 72 °F.
Fishing in North Topsail Beach today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 3:51 pm
- Major period 2:17–4:17 pm
- Steady pressure (30.24 inHg), light cross-shore wind (11 mph) and some swell (4.3 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 88 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 2:50 pm to 4:20 pm, combines the 3:51 pm low tide, a major period and some swell. Also good from 1:50 am to 3:40 am, with the 2:45 am low tide, a major period and some swell.
Species with the most records nearby: mahi-mahi, longfin inshore squid, black sea bass and spot. October is one of the months when these are seen most: longfin inshore squid and black sea bass. What you can catch
Beach day in North Topsail Beach
Is it a beach day?
Rip current risk today: moderate · tomorrow: moderate (NWS)
Dangerous rip currents are possible: swim only near a lifeguard and follow the flags. If one pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore.
- Mostly sunny
- Feels like 74 °F: mild
- Cross-shore breeze (11 mph)
- Water at 68 °F (cool)
- Low tide at 3:51 pm: more sand
- Swim with care: 4.3 ft waves every 7 s; moderate rip current risk (NWS)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 4.3 ft
4.3 ft waves every 7 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 68 °F
Cool: refreshing on a hot day.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 12 mph
Moderate offshore wind (12 mph). Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 2:45 am
Low tide at 2:45 am and 3:51 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 9:24 am and 9:42 pm.
The best window, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, brings sunshine, little wind and low tide at 3:51 pm, though with some waves.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near North Topsail Beach
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Sea Haven Beach 3.1 mi · SW
- North Topsail Shores 4.9 mi · NE
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for North Carolina (N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program).
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near North Topsail Beach
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in North Topsail Beach
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 2:45 am -0.2 ft
- ▲ High tide 9:24 am 6.2 ft · coef. 88
- ▼ Low tide 3:51 pm 0.1 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 9:42 pm 4.3 ft · coef. 86
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 3 h 44 min to high tide at 9:42 pm.
Tide coefficient 88 for the 9:24 am high tide and 86 for the 9:42 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 6.4 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on November 25 (6.2 ft) and the lowest, on December 25 (-1.0 ft).
Mixed: two high and two low tides a day, but of quite different heights.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 28 (coefficient 90, 6.4 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 40, 3.1 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:26 am · 6:20 pm | Low tide 2:45 am · -0.2 ft | High tide 9:24 am · 6.2 ft | Low tide 3:51 pm · 0.1 ft | High tide 9:42 pm · 4.3 ft | Coef. 88 | 91% | Major periods 1:45 am · 2:17 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:27 am · 6:19 pm | Low tide 3:34 am · -0.1 ft | High tide 10:16 am · 6.1 ft | Low tide 4:45 pm · 0.3 ft | High tide 10:35 pm · 4.2 ft | Coef. 84 | 84% | Major periods 2:49 am · 3:21 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:28 am · 6:18 pm | Low tide 4:28 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 11:13 am · 5.8 ft | Low tide 5:44 pm · 0.4 ft | High tide 11:34 pm · 4.0 ft | Coef. 77 | 74% | Major periods 3:53 am · 4:25 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:29 am · 6:17 pm | Low tide 5:28 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 12:14 pm · 5.5 ft | Low tide 6:47 pm · 0.6 ft | — | Coef. 71 | 63% | Major periods 4:56 am · 5:25 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:30 am · 5:16 pm | High tide 12:41 am · 4.0 ft | Low tide 5:36 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 12:20 pm · 5.2 ft | Low tide 6:51 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 68 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:53 am · 5:20 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:31 am · 5:15 pm | High tide 12:54 am · 4.0 ft | Low tide 6:51 am · 0.6 ft | High tide 1:28 pm · 5.0 ft | Low tide 7:54 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 65 | 41% | Major periods 5:46 am · 6:11 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:32 am · 5:14 pm | High tide 2:05 am · 4.3 ft | Low tide 8:07 am · 0.6 ft | High tide 2:32 pm · 4.8 ft | Low tide 8:51 pm · 0.5 ft | Coef. 67 | 30% | Major periods 6:35 am · 6:58 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Ocean City Beach station (Fishing Pier, NOAA), 4.5 mi from North Topsail Beach. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at North Topsail Beach
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common2.2 ft
- Significant4.3 ft
- Highest expectedHighest8.9 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 8.9 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 8.9 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind blows along the shore: drift and current run parallel to the beach.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 4.7 ft with a period of 7 s, from the east (moderate).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water colder than normal for late October (−3.5 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 5:57 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from stations 41110 and 41038, courtesy of CDIP (Coastal Data Information Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Surf in North Topsail Beach today
Surf today
Good- 2.7–4.1 ft surf at the shore, a good size with some punch
- 3.8 ft swell at 6 s from the east-southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Light offshore wind (11 mph): it holds up and grooms the waves
- Falling tide (low tide at 3:51 pm)
Rip current risk today: moderate · tomorrow: moderate (NWS)
Dangerous rip currents are possible: swim only near a lifeguard and follow the flags. If one pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore.
Surf height from the NWS, today: 2.0–4.0 ft
- Light: First light 7:01 am · sunrise 7:26 am · sunset 6:20 pm · last light 6:46 pm
- Tide: low 2:45 am (-0.2 ft), high 9:24 am (6.2 ft), low 3:51 pm (0.1 ft) and high 9:42 pm (4.3 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 67.8 °F: a springsuit or a 2 mm fullsuit.
- Energy: 100 kJ · Medium power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, has a good size and light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm can also work, with a good size and light offshore wind, though with a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Diving in North Topsail Beach today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around low tide (3:51 pm): little current from 3:30 pm to 4:10 pm
- 3.7 ft swell at 6 s from the east-southeast: some surge on the bottom
- Light cross-shore wind (11 mph)
- 0.3 mph current toward the southwest, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 2:45 am (2:30–3:00 am), high tide 9:24 am (9:09–9:40 am), low tide 3:51 pm (3:30–4:10 pm) and high tide 9:42 pm (9:20–10:00 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 3.7 ft at 7 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 67.8 °F: a 5 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 6:46 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 8:07 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 3:10 pm to 4:30 pm, combines slack water at low tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high, though with some swell. Also worth a look from 8:50 am to 9:30 am, with slack water at high tide, light wind and weak current, though with some swell.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in North Topsail Beach
Now in North Topsail Beach
- Low / high
- 55 / 75 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 3%
- Clouds
- 32%
- Humidity
- 67%
- Dew pointDew point
- 60 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 42
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (−0.00 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.11 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Clear | Clear | Clear | Mainly clear | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Overcast |
| Temperature | 56° | 59° | 60° | 62° | 72° | 75° | 71° | 65° |
| Wind (mph) | 7 NNE | 8 NNE | 9 NNE | 10 NNE | 11 NNE | 11 NNE | 9 NE | 11 NE |
| Gusts | 17 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 26 |
| Waves | 3.4 ft | 3.4 ft | 3.5 ft | 3.7 ft | 4.1 ft | 4.2 ft | 4.3 ft | 4.5 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 6:00 pm 71° 9 NE 4.3 ft
- 9:00 pm 65° 11 NE 4.5 ft
- 12:00 am 63° 10 NNE 4.7 ft
- 3:00 am 62° 8 NNE 4.7 ft
- 6:00 am 63° 7 NNE 4.5 ft
- 9:00 am 65° 9 NE 4.2 ft
- 12:00 pm 73° 9 NE 3.9 ft
- 3:00 pm 76° 9 NE 3.8 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 55 / 75 °F | 12 mph NNE | 4.7 ft | 9:24 am · 9:42 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 62 / 76 °F | 10 mph NE | 4.7 ft | 10:16 am · 10:35 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 58 / 76 °F | 6 mph NNE | 3.8 ft | 11:13 am · 11:34 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 58 / 71 °F | 12 mph NE | 3.5 ft | 12:14 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 57 / 72 °F | 13 mph NE | 3.4 ft | 12:41 am · 12:20 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 61 / 71 °F | 14 mph NE | 3.4 ft | 12:54 am · 1:28 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 61 / 74 °F | 14 mph NE | 3.9 ft | 2:05 am · 2:32 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 63 / 74 °F | 12 mph NE | 3.8 ft | 3:09 am · 3:31 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 63 / 73 °F | 11 mph SE | 6.3 ft | 4:04 am · 4:24 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 60 / 72 °F | 9 mph WSW | 7.2 ft | 4:53 am · 5:12 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 54 / 69 °F | 9 mph NNW | 3.3 ft | 5:38 am · 5:56 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 51 / 68 °F | 13 mph N | 4.2 ft | 6:19 am · 6:37 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 52 / 66 °F | 13 mph N | 3.4 ft | 6:58 am · 7:16 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 49 / 70 °F | 11 mph N | 2.8 ft | 7:36 am · 7:54 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 62° / 76° 4.7 ft
- Fri 30 Partly cloudy 58° / 76° 3.8 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 58° / 71° 3.5 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 57° / 72° 3.4 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 61° / 71° 3.4 ft
- Tue 3 Clear sky 61° / 74° 3.9 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 63° / 74° 3.8 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+3.4 °F; normal high: 72 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 5:57 pm (local time).
The sun in North Topsail Beach
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:31 am
- Full dark 7:15 pm
- Civil dawn 7:01 am
- Civil dusk 6:46 pm
- Solar noon 12:53 pm (42° high)
- Daylight 10 h 54 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:45 pm
- Full dark 7:15 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,608 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in North Topsail Beach
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:45–3:45 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:17–4:17 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:54–10:54 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:37–8:37 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 3:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in North Topsail Beach
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Surf City Ocean Pier, Inc 7.9 mi
- Surf City Pier 8.1 mi
- Boat ramp 0.6 mi
- Boat ramp 1.9 mi
- Boat ramp 2.0 mi
- Boat ramp 3.1 mi
- Boat ramp 4.2 mi
- Boat ramp 4.3 mi
- Boat ramp 4.6 mi
- Bayshore Marina 5.0 mi
- Sneads Ferry Marina 5.9 mi
- Yopp Brothers Mariune, Tackle, & Gift Shop 4.3 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Gentle slopeThe bottom slopes gently: 16 ft deep 0.35 mi from shore and 33 ft at 0.7 mi.
From the shoreline (0.25 mi from North Topsail Beach) out to sea, heading southeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep0.35 mi
- 33 ft deep0.7 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 0.35 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 0.7 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Tides near North Topsail BeachTides nearby
- Sneads Ferry4.7 mi
- Surf City7.8 mi
- Topsail Beach14 mi
- Hampstead18 mi
- Jacksonville18 mi
- Swansboro22 mi
- Cedar Point25 mi
- Cape Carteret25 mi
- Bogue27 mi
- Wrightsville Beach28 mi
North Topsail Beach at a glance
- Town or city of about 738 people. Coordinates: 34.490° N, 77.432° W.
- It is 18 mi south of Jacksonville, the main place in North Carolina. The sun rises at the same time and sets at the same time than in Jacksonville.
- The nearest tide station, Ocean City Beach, is 4.5 mi to the southwest.
- Its coast faces southeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Sea Haven Beach (3.1 mi), North Topsail Shores (4.9 mi).
Questions about North Topsail BeachQuestions
What time is high tide today in North Topsail Beach?
Today in North Topsail Beach there are high tides at 9:24 am (6.2 ft) and 9:42 pm (4.3 ft) and low tides at 2:45 am and 3:51 pm. Tide coefficient 88.
What time is sunset today in North Topsail Beach?
At 6:20 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:46 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in North Topsail Beach?
At 7:27 am. First light comes at 6:32 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:45–3:45 am, Minor 9:54–10:54 am, Major 2:17–4:17 pm, Minor 7:37–8:37 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in North Topsail Beach?
Light drizzle, from 55 °F to 75 °F, with a gentle breeze from the northeast (9 mph) and a 3% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in North Topsail Beach?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 4.3 ft waves with a period of 6.5 s from the east. The water is 68.2 °F.
When is the best time to visit North Topsail Beach?
The best time to visit North Topsail Beach is from April to May and in October: highs of 73 °F to 80 °F, about 9 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: NOAA station Ocean City Beach (Fishing Pier) (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).