Orcas tides today
- Tide now 7.6 ft ↑ rising · high 5:37 pm (7.7 ft)
- Best time to fish 5:10–6:30 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 0.1 ft · 54 °F calm (rippled) · 2.1 s from the west
- Wind · air 4 mph · 49 °F from the SSE, gusts 9 · clear sky
- Sun 7:52 am–5:58 pm 10 h 6 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:14 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:14 pm
- Diving tomorrow 12:30–3:30 pm great day · 10/10
Today in Orcas there are high tides at 8:14 am (8.0 ft) and 5:37 pm (7.7 ft) and low tides at 12:29 am and 12:52 pm. Tide coefficient 90. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 5:37 pm. The sun rises at 7:52 am and sets at 5:58 pm: 10 h 6 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:14 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:55 am to 3:55 am and from 2:27 pm to 4:27 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is calm (rippled), with 0.1 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the south-southeast (4 mph). Clear sky, 49 °F.
Fishing in Orcas today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- High tide at 8:14 am, coefficient 90
- Sunrise at 7:52 am
- Falling pressure (−0.09 inHg in 24 h), almost no wind and calm sea (0.5 ft waves)
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 90 (spring tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 7:20 am to 8:40 am, combines the 8:14 am high tide, sunrise and falling pressure. Also good from 5:10 pm to 6:30 pm, with the 5:37 pm high tide and sunset. Also good from 11:50 am to 1:50 pm, with the 12:52 pm low tide, moonset and a light onshore breeze.
Species with the most records nearby: lingcod, market squid, Pacific halibut and coho salmon. October is one of the months when these are seen most: lingcod. What you can catch
Beach day in Orcas
Is it a beach day?
- Mostly sunny
- Onshore breeze (7 mph)
- Calm for swimming: 0.4 ft waves
- Low tide at 12:52 pm: more sand
- Feels like 47 °F: chilly for the beach
- Water at 54 °F (very cold)
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 54 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 7 mph
Onshore breeze (7 mph).
- Tide & sand 12:29 am
Low tide at 12:29 am and 12:52 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 8:14 am and 5:37 pm.
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 Orcas
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- White Beach 3.7 mi · E
- Green Bank 3.9 mi · E
- Chin-Chin-Tse-Tung 4.7 mi · NE
- Obstruction Pass Beach 5.3 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Jackson Beach 6.2 mi · SW
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Kimple Beach 6.2 mi · N
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for Washington (Washington State Department of Ecology).
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 Orcas
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Orcas
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 12:29 am -2.2 ft
- ▲ High tide 8:14 am 8.0 ft · coef. 90
- ▼ Low tide 12:52 pm 6.0 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 5:37 pm 7.7 ft · coef. 88
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 47 min to high tide at 5:37 pm.
Tide coefficient 90 for the 8:14 am high tide and 88 for the 5:37 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 10.1 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 January 4 (9.1 ft) and the lowest, on June 15 (-3.6 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 27 (coefficient 93, 9.4 ft range). The smallest, on October 18 (coefficient 38, 6.9 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 | 7:52 am · 5:58 pm | Low tide 12:29 am · -2.2 ft | High tide 8:14 am · 8.0 ft | Low tide 12:52 pm · 6.0 ft | High tide 5:37 pm · 7.7 ft | Coef. 90 | 91% | Major periods 1:55 am · 2:27 pm | High |
| Thu 29 | 7:54 am · 5:57 pm | Low tide 1:14 am · -2.4 ft | High tide 9:14 am · 8.0 ft | Low tide 1:49 pm · 6.3 ft | High tide 6:12 pm · 7.5 ft | Coef. 84 | 83% | Major periods 2:59 am · 3:32 pm | High |
| Fri 30 | 7:55 am · 5:55 pm | Low tide 2:05 am · -2.2 ft | High tide 10:18 am · 8.0 ft | Low tide 3:00 pm · 6.5 ft | High tide 6:54 pm · 7.1 ft | Coef. 75 | 73% | Major periods 4:04 am · 4:35 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:57 am · 5:53 pm | Low tide 3:00 am · -1.6 ft | High tide 11:23 am · 8.0 ft | Low tide 4:37 pm · 6.3 ft | High tide 7:55 pm · 6.6 ft | Coef. 67 | 62% | Major periods 5:05 am · 5:34 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:58 am · 4:52 pm | Low tide 2:59 am · -0.9 ft | High tide 11:21 am · 7.9 ft | Low tide 5:53 pm · 5.7 ft | High tide 8:25 pm · 5.9 ft | Coef. 60 | Last quarter | Major periods 5:02 am · 5:29 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 7:00 am · 4:50 pm | Low tide 4:04 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 12:10 pm · 7.9 ft | Low tide 7:04 pm · 4.7 ft | High tide 10:11 pm · 5.4 ft | Coef. 60 | 39% | Major periods 5:55 am · 6:19 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:02 am · 4:48 pm | Low tide 5:10 am · 1.0 ft | High tide 12:51 pm · 7.9 ft | Low tide 7:44 pm · 3.6 ft | — | Coef. 63 | 29% | Major periods 6:43 am · 7:06 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 Orcas station (NOAA), 0.3 mi from Orcas. Times and heights are its predictions. It is a NOAA subordinate station: its times and heights come from the Port Townsend reference station with the official corrections.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Orcas
Sea stateSea state: calm (rippled)
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.1 ft
- Significant0.1 ft
- Highest expectedHighest0.3 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 0.3 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 0.3 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-onshore wind. The coast faces southwest and the wind comes in from the sea at an angle: a bit more surf at the shore and drift along the coast, toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 1.6 ft with a period of 3 s, from the southeast (smooth).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water cools over the next few days: about 52.6 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water warmer 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 4:50 pm (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station 46088, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Diving in Orcas today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around low tide (12:52 pm): little current from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
- 0.1 ft swell at 2 s from the northwest: barely any surge
- Light onshore wind (6 mph)
- 0.0 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 12:29 am (12:10–12:44 am), high tide 8:14 am (7:50–8:50 am), low tide 12:52 pm (12:00–1:30 pm) and high tide 5:37 pm (4:30–6:10 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Rain (0.75 in) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 53.4 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:31 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:14 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:20 am to 2:20 pm, combines slack water at low tide, little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 7:50 am to 9:30 am, with slack water at high 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
- Wreck 4.9 mi
- Wreck 5.0 mi
- Wreck 5.2 mi
- Wreck 5.4 mi
- Blind Island Marine State Park 1.0 mi
- Jones Island Marine State Park 4.8 mi
- James Island Marine State Park 9.7 mi
- Sucia Island Marine State Park 11 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.
Weather in Orcas
Now in Orcas
- Low / high
- 42 / 51 °F
- Rain
- 0.07 in · 75%
- Clouds
- 17%
- Humidity
- 79%
- Dew pointDew point
- 43 °F
- Visibility
- 12 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 32
- 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). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. 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 | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Light drizzle | Light drizzle | Mainly clear | Light drizzle | Mainly clear |
| Temperature | 46° | 45° | 44° | 44° | 50° | 51° | 46° | 43° |
| Wind (mph) | 6 SE | 3 S | 2 N | 2 ESE | 4 SSW | 6 S | 4 SE | 5 ESE |
| Gusts | 14 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| Waves | 0.7 ft | 0.7 ft | 0.5 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.3 ft | 0.2 ft | 0.2 ft | 0.5 ft |
| Rain | 0.07 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 46° 4 SE 0.2 ft
- 9:00 pm 43° 5 ESE 0.5 ft
- 12:00 am 43° 6 ESE 1.2 ft
- 3:00 am 44° 8 SE 1.6 ft
- 6:00 am 44° 7 SE 1.5 ft
- 9:00 am 45° 9 SE 1.4 ft
- 12:00 pm 50° 10 ESE 1.2 ft
- 3:00 pm 51° 9 ESE 1.0 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 42 / 51 °F | 7 mph SE | 1.0 ft | 8:14 am · 5:37 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 43 / 51 °F | 10 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 9:14 am · 6:12 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 41 / 51 °F | 5 mph ENE | 0.3 ft | 10:18 am · 6:54 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 40 / 51 °F | 4 mph ENE | 0.3 ft | 11:23 am · 7:55 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 41 / 51 °F | 3 mph E | 0.2 ft | 11:21 am · 8:25 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 41 / 51 °F | 3 mph ENE | 0.1 ft | 12:10 pm · 10:11 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 43 / 52 °F | 4 mph NNE | 0.3 ft | 12:51 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 42 / 52 °F | 3 mph NE | 0.4 ft | 12:10 am · 1:24 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 43 / 52 °F | 4 mph SE | 1.2 ft | 1:58 am · 1:51 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 44 / 53 °F | 5 mph SE | 1.7 ft | 3:17 am · 2:13 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 45 / 53 °F | 6 mph SE | 2.3 ft | 4:20 am · 2:32 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 45 / 54 °F | 10 mph ESE | 1.8 ft | 5:13 am · 2:50 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 49 / 55 °F | 27 mph SE | 1.9 ft | 6:01 am · 3:10 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 53 / 58 °F | 17 mph ESE | 0.9 ft | 6:45 am · 3:31 pm |
- Thu 29 Light drizzle 43° / 51° 1.6 ft
- Fri 30 Light drizzle 41° / 51° 0.3 ft
- Sat 31 Partly cloudy 40° / 51° 0.3 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 41° / 51° 0.2 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 41° / 51° 0.1 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 43° / 52° 0.3 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 42° / 52° 0.4 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 rain today. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, normal rain and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−3.4 °F; normal high: 54 °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 4:50 pm (local time).
The sun in Orcas
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:43 am
- Full dark 7:08 pm
- Civil dawn 7:20 am
- Civil dusk 6:31 pm
- Solar noon 12:56 pm (28° high)
- Daylight 10 h 6 min (−3 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:13 pm
- Full dark 7:08 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,351,526 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Orcas
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,426 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 1:55–3:55 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:27–4:27 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:06 am–12:06 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 6:44–7:44 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 · 12:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pmNov 8 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 3:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 6:54 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 Orcas
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Shaw Island General Store customer pier 1.2 mi
- Walkway D 5.3 mi
- Spring Street Landing 5.3 mi
- Fuel Pier 5.3 mi
- Boat ramp 2.2 mi
- Boat ramp 2.4 mi
- Boat ramp 3.3 mi
- Bay Head Marina 0.4 mi
- Westsound Marina 2.3 mi
- Deer Harbor Marina 3.0 mi
- Cayou Quay Marina 3.3 mi
- Shell 5.3 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
Drops off fastThe bottom drops off fast: the water is 33 ft deep just 180 ft from shore.
From the shoreline out to sea, heading west.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep80 ft
- 33 ft deep180 ft
- 66 ft deep600 ft
- 164 ft deepnot within 3 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Deep water close in: about 39 ft just 330 ft out. Good for casting from rocks, jetties or the beach itself; current and surf hit harder here.
- Swimming. The bottom drops quickly near the shore and you are soon out of your depth. Keep an eye on kids and weak swimmers.
- Diving. Shore diving works here: 33 ft at 180 ft and 66 ft at 600 ft from shore.
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) 3 mi out. The profile is turned slightly from the coast so it does not run into an island or a headland. Right by the shore the bottom may drop even faster than shown. 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.
Tides near OrcasTides nearby
- Dolphin4.0 mi
- Friday Harbor5.5 mi
- Waldron7.5 mi
- Roche Harbor9.4 mi
- Islandale11 mi
- Boundary Pass12 mi
- Anacortes16 mi
- Cadboro Bay19 mi
- Gordon Head19 mi
- Deception Pass19 mi
Orcas at a glance
- Town or city of about 394 people. Coordinates: 48.598° N, 122.945° W.
- It is 74 mi north of Seattle, the main place in Washington. The sun rises 5 min later and sets at the same time than in Seattle.
- The nearest tide station, Orcas, is 0.3 mi to the northwest.
- Its coast faces southwest.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Bay Head Marina (0.4 mi), South Beach (San Juan County) (2.4 mi), Deer Harbor Marina (3.1 mi), Cayou Quay Marina (3.2 mi).
Questions about OrcasQuestions
What time is high tide today in Orcas?
Today in Orcas there are high tides at 8:14 am (8.0 ft) and 5:37 pm (7.7 ft) and low tides at 12:29 am and 12:52 pm. Tide coefficient 90.
What time is sunset today in Orcas?
At 5:58 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:31 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Orcas?
At 7:54 am. First light comes at 6:44 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Sun, Nov 8 · 11:03 pm.
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 1:55–3:55 am, Minor 11:06 am–12:06 pm, Major 2:27–4:27 pm, Minor 6:44–7:44 pm. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Orcas?
Light drizzle, from 42 °F to 51 °F, with a light breeze from the south-southeast (4 mph) and a 75% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Orcas?
Calm (rippled) (Douglas 1): 0.1 ft waves with a period of 2.1 s from the west. The water is 53.8 °F.
When is the best time to visit Orcas?
The best time to visit Orcas is from July to August: highs of 70 °F, about 3 rainy days a month and 8 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 Orcas (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).