Portsmouth Heights tides today
- Tide now 0.1 ft ↓ falling · low 6:00 pm (0.1 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:40–6:40 pm average day · 6/10
- Beach tomorrow 1:00–6:00 pm Good beach day · 7/10
- Waves · water 0.4 ft · 65 °F smooth · 2.9 s from the northeast
- Wind · air 7 mph · 65 °F from the ENE, gusts 13 · partly cloudy
- Sun 7:25 am–6:13 pm 10 h 47 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:54 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:54 pm
- Best time to dive 5:20–6:10 pm great day · 10/10
Today in Portsmouth Heights there are high tides at 11:25 am (3.5 ft) and 11:50 pm (3.0 ft) and low tides at 5:12 am and 6:00 pm. Tide coefficient 84. Right now the tide is falling toward the low tide at 6:00 pm. The sun rises at 7:25 am and sets at 6:13 pm: 10 h 47 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:54 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:40 am to 3:40 am and from 2:12 pm to 4:12 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is smooth, with 0.4 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the east-northeast (7 mph). Partly cloudy, 65 °F.
Fishing in Portsmouth Heights today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 6:00 pm
- Sunset at 6:13 pm, golden hour from 5:37 pm
- Steady pressure (30.33 inHg), light cross-shore wind (7 mph) and calm sea (0.4 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 84 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 5:40 pm to 6:40 pm, combines the 6:00 pm low tide and sunset. Also good from 10:20 am to 11:00 am, with the 11:25 am high tide, moonset and a light onshore breeze.
Species with the most records nearby: spot, summer flounder, Atlantic croaker and weakfish. October is one of the months when these are seen most: Atlantic croaker and weakfish. What you can catch
Beach day in Portsmouth Heights
Is it a beach day?
2 good hours- Mostly sunny
- Feels like 71 °F: mild
- Onshore breeze (10 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.4 ft waves
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 65 °F (cool)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.4 ft
0.4 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 65 °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 10 mph
Onshore breeze (10 mph).
- Tide & sand 6:00 pm
Low tide at 5:12 am and 6:00 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 11:25 am and 11:50 pm.
The best window, 12:00 pm to 4:00 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 Portsmouth Heights
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Needle Beach 3.9 mi · E
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 Portsmouth Heights
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Portsmouth Heights
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 5:12 am 0.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:25 am 3.5 ft · coef. 84
- ▼ Next low tide 6:00 pm 0.1 ft
- ▲ High tide 11:50 pm 3.0 ft · coef. 82
↓ Falling The tide is falling. 2 min to low tide at 6:00 pm.
Tide coefficient 84 for the 11:25 am high tide and 82 for the 11:50 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 3.5 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 10 (3.7 ft) and the lowest, on December 25 (-0.6 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 8 to 10 (coefficient 88, 3.6 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 44, 1.9 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 | 7:25 am · 6:13 pm | Low tide 5:12 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 11:25 am · 3.5 ft | Low tide 6:00 pm · 0.1 ft | High tide 11:50 pm · 3.0 ft | Coef. 84 | 91% | Major periods 1:40 am · 2:12 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:26 am · 6:11 pm | Low tide 6:01 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 12:20 pm · 3.5 ft | Low tide 6:54 pm · 0.2 ft | — | Coef. 80 | 84% | Major periods 2:44 am · 3:17 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:27 am · 6:10 pm | High tide 12:44 am · 2.9 ft | Low tide 6:55 am · 0.1 ft | High tide 1:18 pm · 3.4 ft | Low tide 7:53 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 77 | 74% | Major periods 3:49 am · 4:21 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:28 am · 6:09 pm | High tide 1:41 am · 2.8 ft | Low tide 7:56 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 2:18 pm · 3.3 ft | Low tide 8:57 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 72 | 63% | Major periods 4:51 am · 5:21 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:29 am · 5:08 pm | High tide 1:40 am · 2.8 ft | Low tide 8:01 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 2:19 pm · 3.2 ft | Low tide 9:00 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 68 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:49 am · 5:16 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:30 am · 5:07 pm | High tide 2:42 am · 2.7 ft | Low tide 9:11 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 3:22 pm · 3.0 ft | Low tide 10:01 pm · 0.4 ft | Coef. 67 | 41% | Major periods 5:42 am · 6:07 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:31 am · 5:06 pm | High tide 3:50 am · 2.8 ft | Low tide 10:20 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 4:29 pm · 2.9 ft | Low tide 10:54 pm · 0.3 ft | Coef. 69 | 30% | Major periods 6:31 am · 6:54 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 Western Branch station (NOAA), 1.7 mi from Portsmouth Heights. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Portsmouth Heights
Sea stateSea state: smooth
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.2 ft
- Significant0.4 ft
- Highest expectedHighest0.9 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 0.9 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 0.9 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces north 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 Saturday 31: 0.8 ft with a period of 2 s, from the northeast (smooth).
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.
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 5:58 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 44087, courtesy of CDIP (Coastal Data Information Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), via the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
Diving in Portsmouth Heights today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (11:25 am): little current from 11:00 am to 11:50 am
- 0.3 ft swell at 3 s from the northeast: barely any surge
- Light onshore wind (9 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the south, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 5:12 am (4:50–5:30 am), high tide 11:25 am (11:00–11:50 am), low tide 6:00 pm (5:40–6:20 pm) and high tide 11:50 pm (11:30 pm–12:20 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 64.4 °F: a 5 mm wetsuit.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:39 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:54 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, combines slack water at high tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 5:20 pm to 6:10 pm, with slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind and weak 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
- SS Roxy 2.7 mi
- USS Congress 10.0 mi
- CSS Florida 11 mi
- USS Cumberland 11 mi
- Wreck 6.7 mi
- Wreck 7.7 mi
- Wreck 11 mi
- Newport News Middle Ground Reef 8.7 mi
- Divers Unlimited Of Norfolk 12 mi
- Family Dive Shack 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 Portsmouth Heights
Now in Portsmouth Heights
- Low / high
- 55 / 73 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 3%
- Clouds
- 78%
- Humidity
- 75%
- Dew pointDew point
- 57 °F
- Visibility
- 12 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Moderate · 55
- 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 (+0.01 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.18 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 | Clear sky | Mainly clear | Mainly clear | Partly cloudy | Mainly clear |
| Temperature | 56° | 55° | 56° | 61° | 71° | 71° | 65° | 59° |
| Wind (mph) | 2 NE | 4 NNE | 3 NE | 4 NE | 9 ENE | 9 ENE | 7 ENE | 3 NE |
| Gusts | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
| Waves | 0.3 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.3 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.4 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 65° 7 ENE 0.4 ft
- 9:00 pm 59° 3 NE 0.4 ft
- 12:00 am 60° 4 NE 0.3 ft
- 3:00 am 61° 4 ENE 0.3 ft
- 6:00 am 59° 4 ENE 0.3 ft
- 9:00 am 61° 2 ENE 0.2 ft
- 12:00 pm 70° 4 NNE 0.2 ft
- 3:00 pm 72° 5 N 0.1 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 55 / 73 °F | 10 mph NE | 0.4 ft | 11:25 am · 11:50 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 57 / 72 °F | 6 mph NE | 0.3 ft | 12:20 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 52 / 77 °F | 5 mph NNW | 0.1 ft | 12:44 am · 1:18 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 54 / 62 °F | 9 mph NNE | 0.8 ft | 1:41 am · 2:18 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 53 / 68 °F | 7 mph E | 0.3 ft | 1:40 am · 2:19 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 55 / 69 °F | 7 mph ENE | 0.1 ft | 2:42 am · 3:22 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 58 / 71 °F | 11 mph ENE | 0.1 ft | 3:50 am · 4:29 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 60 / 73 °F | 11 mph ENE | 0.1 ft | 4:58 am · 5:30 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 60 / 72 °F | 12 mph ESE | 1.0 ft | 5:57 am · 6:23 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 58 / 69 °F | 10 mph W | 2.1 ft | 6:47 am · 7:10 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 53 / 65 °F | 9 mph NNW | 2.6 ft | 7:32 am · 7:54 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 51 / 62 °F | 11 mph N | 2.4 ft | 8:14 am · 8:35 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 51 / 60 °F | 11 mph NNE | 2.6 ft | 8:53 am · 9:14 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 50 / 64 °F | 7 mph NNE | 1.9 ft | 9:31 am · 9:52 pm |
- Thu 29 Overcast 57° / 72° 0.3 ft
- Fri 30 Mainly clear 52° / 77° 0.1 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 54° / 62° 0.8 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 53° / 68° 0.3 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 55° / 69° 0.1 ft
- Tue 3 Partly cloudy 58° / 71° 0.1 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 60° / 73° 0.1 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 They agree · high confidence for the next few days. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: warmer and a bit wetter. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+4.3 °F; normal high: 68 °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 5:58 pm (local time).
The sun in Portsmouth Heights
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:28 am
- Full dark 7:10 pm
- Civil dawn 6:59 am
- Civil dusk 6:39 pm
- Solar noon 12:49 pm (40° high)
- Daylight 10 h 47 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:37 pm
- Full dark 7:10 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,680 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Portsmouth Heights
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:40–3:40 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:12–4:12 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:57–10:57 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:24–8:24 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 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 Portsmouth Heights
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Fishing pier 0.7 mi
- Fishing pier 6.7 mi
- Pier1 3.8 mi
- Pier 2 3.9 mi
- Sailboat launch 0.9 mi
- Boat ramp 3.7 mi
- Plum Point Kayak Launch 4.3 mi
- Portsmouth Boating Center 3.4 mi
- Ocean Yacht Marina 4.1 mi
- High Street Landing 4.1 mi
- Greg's Bait Shack 0.8 mi
- Fuel dock 4.2 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: even 2.3 mi from shore the water is less than 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline (0.95 mi from Portsmouth Heights) out to sea, heading northeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 2.3 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Very shallow: the water doesn't reach 16 ft within 2.3 mi. Cast far from the beach, ideally around high tide.
- 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 2.3 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. There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 2.3 mi out. The profile is turned slightly from the coast so it does not run into an island or a headland. Where the bottom comes up to the surface there are shoals, rocks or an islet next to the profile.
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
Lambert Point Light 4.3 mi northeast
Other lighthouses nearby: Craney Island Light (5.2 mi north).
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Portsmouth HeightsTides nearby
- Portsmouth4.0 mi
- Ghent4.7 mi
- Berkley4.8 mi
- Norfolk5.0 mi
- Chesapeake5.2 mi
- Avalon5.3 mi
- Huntersville5.9 mi
- Hobson9.4 mi
- Newport News12 mi
- Carrollton14 mi
Portsmouth Heights at a glance
- Town or city of about 99,049 people. Coordinates: 36.821° N, 76.369° W.
- It is 22 mi west of Virginia Beach, the main place in Virginia. The sun rises 2 min later and sets 2 min later than in Virginia Beach.
- The nearest tide station, Western Branch, is 1.7 mi to the west.
- Its coast faces north.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Scott's Creek Marina (3.6 mi), Port of Portsmouth (3.6 mi), Virginia International Gateway (3.9 mi), Holiday Harbor (4.0 mi).
Questions about Portsmouth HeightsQuestions
What time is high tide today in Portsmouth Heights?
Today in Portsmouth Heights there are high tides at 11:25 am (3.5 ft) and 11:50 pm (3.0 ft) and low tides at 5:12 am and 6:00 pm. Tide coefficient 84.
What time is sunset today in Portsmouth Heights?
At 6:13 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:39 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Portsmouth Heights?
At 7:26 am. First light comes at 6:29 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 1:40–3:40 am, Minor 9:57–10:57 am, Major 2:12–4:12 pm, Minor 7:24–8:24 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Portsmouth Heights?
Overcast, from 55 °F to 73 °F, with a light breeze from the east-northeast (7 mph) and a 3% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Portsmouth Heights?
Smooth (Douglas 2): 0.4 ft waves with a period of 2.9 s from the northeast. The water is 64.9 °F.
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth Heights?
The best time to visit Portsmouth Heights is from September to October and from April to June: highs of 70 °F to 85 °F, about 9 rainy days a month and 6 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 Western Branch (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).