Cape Charles tides today
- Tide now 0.4 ft ↓ falling · low 5:39 am (0.1 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:40–6:40 pm good day · 7/10
- Beach day 12:00–5:00 pm Good beach day · 7/10
- Waves · water 0.9 ft · 63 °F smooth · 5.1 s from the east-southeast
- Wind · air 2 mph · 58 °F from the E, gusts 10 · mainly clear
- Sun 7:26 am–6:09 pm 10 h 44 min of daylight
- Moon 84% · 8:54 pm waning gibbous · rises at 8:54 pm
- Best time to dive 11:30 am–1:20 pm great day · 9/10
Today in Cape Charles there is high tide at 11:58 am (3.2 ft) and low tides at 5:39 am and 6:39 pm. Tide coefficient 82. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 5:39 am. The sun rises at 7:26 am and sets at 6:09 pm: 10 h 44 min of daylight. The moon is 84% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 8:54 pm. Major solunar periods run from 2:43 am to 4:43 am and from 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is smooth, with 0.9 ft waves. There's a light air from the east (2 mph). Mainly clear, 58 °F.
Fishing in Cape Charles today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 6:39 pm
- Sunset at 6:09 pm, golden hour from 5:33 pm
- Falling pressure (−0.16 inHg in 24 h), almost no wind and calm sea (0.7 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 82 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:40 pm to 6:40 pm, combines the 6:39 pm low tide, sunset and falling pressure. Also good from 11:10 am to 12:10 pm, with the 11:58 am high tide, moonset and falling pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: summer flounder, spot, Atlantic croaker and weakfish. October is one of the months when these are seen most: spot and scup. What you can catch
Beach day in Cape Charles
Is it a beach day?
6 good hours- Sunny
- Feels like 73 °F: mild
- Cross-shore breeze (4 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.7 ft waves
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 64 °F (cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.7 ft
0.7 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 63 °F
Cold: ease in slowly.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 6 mph
Cross-shore breeze (6 mph).
- Tide & sand 5:39 am
Low tide at 5:39 am and 6:39 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 11:58 am.
The best window, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, brings sunshine, little wind and a calm sea.
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 Cape Charles
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Tankards Beach 5.3 mi · N
- Wilkins Beach 6.0 mi · N
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for Virginia (Virginia Department of Health).
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 Cape Charles
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Cape Charles
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Next low tide 5:39 am 0.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:58 am 3.2 ft · coef. 82
- ▼ Low tide 6:39 pm 0.3 ft
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 1 h 18 min to low tide at 5:39 am.
Tide coefficient 82 for the 11:58 am high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 3.1 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 October 27 (3.3 ft) and the lowest, on December 25 (-0.7 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
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 89, 3.3 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 41, 1.5 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 7:26 am · 6:09 pm | Low tide 5:39 am · 0.1 ft | High tide 11:58 am · 3.2 ft | Low tide 6:39 pm · 0.3 ft | — | Coef. 82 | 84% | Major periods 2:43 am · 3:15 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:27 am · 6:08 pm | High tide 12:20 am · 2.4 ft | Low tide 6:34 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 12:55 pm · 3.1 ft | Low tide 7:40 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 79 | 74% | Major periods 3:48 am · 4:19 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:28 am · 6:07 pm | High tide 1:18 am · 2.3 ft | Low tide 7:38 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 1:54 pm · 2.9 ft | Low tide 8:44 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 73 | 63% | Major periods 4:50 am · 5:19 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:29 am · 5:06 pm | High tide 1:20 am · 2.3 ft | Low tide 7:48 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 1:56 pm · 2.8 ft | Low tide 8:48 pm · 0.5 ft | Coef. 68 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:48 am · 5:15 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:30 am · 5:05 pm | High tide 2:28 am · 2.3 ft | Low tide 9:02 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 3:05 pm · 2.6 ft | Low tide 9:50 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 65 | 41% | Major periods 5:40 am · 6:05 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:31 am · 5:04 pm | High tide 3:45 am · 2.4 ft | Low tide 10:15 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 4:17 pm · 2.5 ft | Low tide 10:46 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 67 | 30% | Major periods 6:29 am · 6:52 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 6:32 am · 5:03 pm | High tide 4:54 am · 2.5 ft | Low tide 11:20 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 5:17 pm · 2.5 ft | Low tide 11:36 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 70 | 21% | Major periods 7:15 am · 7:37 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 Cape Charles Harbor station (NOAA), 0.5 mi from Cape Charles. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Cape Charles
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.5 ft
- Significant0.9 ft
- Highest expectedHighest1.9 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 1.9 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 1.9 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
The model doesn't separate offshore wind here: it's the same as on the coast.
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces north and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Saturday 31: 1.8 ft with a period of 3 s, from the north-northeast (slight).
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 about normal for late October.
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 4:21 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 44072, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Diving in Cape Charles today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (11:58 am): little current from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
- 0.7 ft swell at 5 s from the east-southeast: barely any surge
- Almost no wind
- 0.8 mph current toward the north (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 5:39 am (5:10–6:00 am), high tide 11:58 am (11:30 am–12:30 pm), low tide 6:39 pm (6:10–7:10 pm) and high tide 12:20 am (11:50 pm–1:00 am)
- Likely visibility: good. The sea has been calm and there's been little rain. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 63.0 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:36 pm. Waning gibbous (84%), rising at 8:54 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:30 am to 1:20 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind and the sun high, though with current.
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
- North Kiptopeke concrete ships 7.2 mi
- Southern Kiptopeke Concrete Ship Breakwater 7.6 mi
- Wreck 4.0 mi
- Wreck 7.5 mi
- Wreck 8.0 mi
- Wreck 9.6 mi
- Cherrystone Reef 3.5 mi
- Cabbage Patch Reef 7.1 mi
- The Cell Reef 9.4 mi
- York Spit Reef 12 mi
- Mockhorn Island State Wildlife Management Area 7.4 mi
- Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge 12 mi
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). US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation. Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in Cape Charles
Now in Cape Charles
- Low / high
- 55 / 70 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 1%
- Clouds
- 20%
- Humidity
- 91%
- Dew pointDew point
- 56 °F
- Visibility
- 8.5 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 50
- 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: +0.03 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 | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear | Clear | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear sky | Clear |
| Temperature | 55° | 58° | 57° | 60° | 68° | 70° | 65° | 58° |
| Wind (mph) | 4 NNE | 3 NE | 1 NNE | 4 NNW | 3 WNW | 2 SW | 3 SSW | 5 SSE |
| Gusts | 13 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| Waves | 1.0 ft | 1.0 ft | 0.9 ft | 0.8 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.7 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 am 57° 1 NNE 0.9 ft
- 9:00 am 60° 4 NNW 0.8 ft
- 12:00 pm 68° 3 WNW 0.7 ft
- 3:00 pm 70° 2 SW 0.7 ft
- 6:00 pm 65° 3 SSW 0.7 ft
- 9:00 pm 58° 5 SSE 0.7 ft
- 12:00 am 56° 3 SSW 0.7 ft
- 3:00 am 56° 3 WSW 0.7 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 55 / 70 °F | 7 mph ENE | 1.0 ft | 11:58 am | |
| Fri 30 | 55 / 69 °F | 7 mph NW | 1.2 ft | 12:20 am · 12:55 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 49 / 60 °F | 11 mph NNE | 1.8 ft | 1:18 am · 1:54 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 50 / 64 °F | 7 mph E | 0.8 ft | 1:20 am · 1:56 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 54 / 66 °F | 6 mph E | 0.9 ft | 2:28 am · 3:05 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 56 / 67 °F | 10 mph ENE | 0.9 ft | 3:45 am · 4:17 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 58 / 68 °F | 13 mph ENE | 1.2 ft | 4:54 am · 5:17 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 58 / 68 °F | 13 mph E | 1.4 ft | 5:50 am · 6:08 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 54 / 65 °F | 11 mph NNE | 1.6 ft | 6:37 am · 6:54 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 52 / 62 °F | 11 mph NNW | 2.3 ft | 7:20 am · 7:36 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 51 / 60 °F | 15 mph NNW | 1.7 ft | 8:00 am · 8:16 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 56 / 64 °F | 15 mph SW | 1.6 ft | 8:36 am · 8:54 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 58 / 64 °F | 15 mph SW | 1.4 ft | 9:12 am · 9:31 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 57 / 62 °F | 13 mph NW | 1.4 ft | 9:48 am · 10:09 pm |
- Fri 30 Clear sky 55° / 69° 1.2 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 49° / 60° 1.8 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 50° / 64° 0.8 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 54° / 66° 0.9 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 56° / 67° 0.9 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 58° / 68° 1.2 ft
- Thu 5 Light rain 58° / 68° 1.4 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.
- The models Partly agree · medium confidence: unsure about temperature today. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, a bit wetter and a warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+4.2 °F; normal high: 66 °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 4:21 am (local time).
The sun in Cape Charles
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:28 am
- Full dark 7:07 pm
- Civil dawn 6:59 am
- Civil dusk 6:36 pm
- Solar noon 12:48 pm (39° high)
- Daylight 10 h 44 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:33 pm
- Full dark 7:07 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,330,453 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Cape Charles
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,746 mi away and looks 32′ 44″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 2:43–4:43 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 3:15–5:15 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:07 am–12:07 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 8:24–9:24 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 3 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 amNov 24 in 26 days
Next perigee (the moon at its closest to Earth): November 25, 223,281 mi away.
Where to fish in Cape Charles
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Cape Charles Fishing Pier 0.6 mi
- Pier 3 1.2 mi
- Pier 2 1.4 mi
- Jetty 0.6 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 0.9 mi
- Boat ramp 5.3 mi
- Cape Charles Town Harbor 0.4 mi
- Cape Charles Yacht Center 0.5 mi
- Oyster Farm Marina 0.7 mi
- Bailey's Bait & Tackle 0.2 mi
- Tackle shop 1.5 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
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: 3.1 mi from shore the water is still only about 31 ft deep.
From the shoreline (0.35 mi from Cape Charles) out to sea, heading north.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.4 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 3.1 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 1.4 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: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 3.1 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
Inside bays, estuaries and harbors the bottom changes a lot from spot to spot (channels and shoals): use this only as a rough guide.
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.
Nearest lighthouse
Cherrystone Bar Light 1.3 mi southwest
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Cape CharlesTides nearby
- Cheriton2.8 mi
- Eastville6.9 mi
- Cedar Grove7.3 mi
- Mobjack20 mi
- Mathews20 mi
- Poquoson21 mi
- Bohannon21 mi
- Maryus21 mi
- Severn22 mi
- Gwynn22 mi
Cape Charles at a glance
- Town or city of about 1,017 people. Coordinates: 37.270° N, 76.016° W.
- It is 29 mi north of Virginia Beach, the main place in Virginia. The sun rises 1 min later and sets at the same time than in Virginia Beach.
- The nearest tide station, Cape Charles Harbor, is 0.5 mi to the south.
- Its coast faces north.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Bay Creek Marina (0.7 mi), Hunts Wharf (2.9 mi), Arlington Wharf (3.2 mi).
Questions about Cape CharlesQuestions
What time is high tide today in Cape Charles?
Today in Cape Charles there is high tide at 11:58 am (3.2 ft) and low tides at 5:39 am and 6:39 pm. Tide coefficient 82.
What time is sunset today in Cape Charles?
At 6:09 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:36 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Cape Charles?
At 7:27 am. First light comes at 6:29 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 84% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From November 9 to 11.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 2:43–4:43 am, Minor 11:07 am–12:07 pm, Major 3:15–5:15 pm, Minor 8:24–9:24 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Cape Charles?
Partly cloudy, from 55 °F to 70 °F, with a light air from the east (2 mph) and a 1% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Cape Charles?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.9 ft waves with a period of 5.1 s from the east-southeast. The water is 63.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Cape Charles?
The best time to visit Cape Charles is from May to June and from August to October: highs of 70 °F to 85 °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 Cape Charles Harbor (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).