Today's tide
Today's tides
ft above MLLW- High2:03 AM4.1 ft
- Low7:25 AM0.9 ft
- High2:37 PM4.6 ft
- Low8:45 PM1.3 ft
Tomorrow's tide (predicted)
Tomorrow's tides
ft above MLLW- High2:55 AM4.0 ft
- Low8:15 AM1.0 ft
- High3:30 PM4.5 ft
- Low9:38 PM1.3 ft
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 2:03 AM | 4.1 ft |
| Low | 7:25 AM | 0.9 ft |
| High | 2:37 PM | 4.6 ft |
| Low | 8:45 PM | 1.3 ft |
Best windows today
- Fishing9:00 to 10:00 PM
Today's best window (6:00 to 7:00 AM) has passed. Dawn light with the outgoing tide around the 7:25 AM low. Second window 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
- Tidepools & shellingNext: Sun 8:00 to 9:00 AMEarlier today: 7:00 to 8:00 AM
Today's best window (7:00 to 8:00 AM) has passed.
- SurfingNext: Sun 11:00 AM to 1:00 PMEarlier today: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Today's best window (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) has passed.
- Shallow boat launchAvoid 6:00 to 9:00 AM
Under 1.5 ft around low water. Launch before 6:00 AM.
Best windows tomorrow
- Fishing6:00 to 8:00 AM
Dawn light with the outgoing tide around the 8:15 AM low.
- Tidepools & shelling8:00 to 9:00 AM
The 1.0 ft low at 8:15 AM falls in full daylight.
- Surfing11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mid tide from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. No wind sensor at this station.
- Shallow boat launchAvoid 7:00 to 10:00 AM
Under 1.5 ft around low water. Launch before 7:00 AM.
Next 7 days
October calendar →| Day | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Range, ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TodaySat 17 | H2:03a4.1 | L7:25a0.9 | H2:37p4.6 | L8:45p1.3 | 3.6 |
| SunOct 18 | H2:55a4.0 | L8:15a1.0 | H3:30p4.5 | L9:38p1.3 | 3.5 |
| MonOct 19 | H3:47a4.1 | L9:19a1.0 | H4:21p4.5 | L10:31p1.2 | 3.5 |
| TueOct 20 | H4:39a4.2 | L10:26a1.0 | H5:10p4.6 | L11:21p1.0 | 3.6 |
| WedOct 21 | H5:30a4.3 | L11:29a0.9 | H5:58p4.6 | 3.7 | |
| ThuOct 22 | L12:10a0.8 | H6:22a4.5 | L12:28p0.8 | H6:47p4.6 | 3.9 |
| FriOct 23 | L12:57a0.6 | H7:12a4.7 | L1:25p0.6 | H7:33p4.7 | 4.1 |
Neap tides Monday. Smaller range, so highs and lows stay close to average. Spring and neap tides
Tide predictions and observations: NOAA National Ocean Service, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), station 8658501.
Nearby stations
Currents
Orton Point, 0.5 Nm S of
- Max flood12:13 AM 0.9 kn
- Slack2:44 AM
- Max ebb6:12 AM 1.7 kn
- Slack9:10 AM
- Max flood11:52 AM 1.2 kn
- Slack3:23 PM
- Max ebb7:03 PM 2.0 kn
- Slack10:25 PM
Current predictions for Orton Point, 0.5 Nm S of, 0.7 mi away. Currents near inlets can be strong. Not for navigation.
Station details
- Datum
- Mean lower low water
- Predictions
- NOAA subordinate, from Wilmington, Cape Fear River
- Live gauge
- None
- Coordinates
- 34.057° N, 77.940° W
- Time zone
- Eastern, UTC−4
- Station ID
- NOAA 8658501
About the tides at Orton Point
Expect two roughly equal high tides a day at Cape Fear River, each arriving about 50 minutes later than the day before. The pattern follows the reference station at Wilmington, Cape Fear River. On a typical day the water moves about 4.2 ft between high and low. That is larger than most North Carolina stations on this site. From the average lower low to the average higher high, the difference is 4.6 ft. Over the next two weeks the biggest daily range, 5.3 ft, comes on October 27, and the smallest, 3.5 ft, on Monday. Looking a year ahead, predictions peak at 5.3 ft on October 27 and bottom out at −1.2 ft on January 23.
Tides here are worked out from the reference station at Wilmington, Cape Fear River, with NOAA time and height corrections. Times are good for planning, but local wind can shift them. NOAA measured the tide here in 1976 to set up these predictions. The nearest other station is Sunny Point Army Base, 2 mi away, where high tide comes about 10 min earlier. For tidal currents, see Orton Point, 0.5 Nm S of.
Predictions are based on Wilmington, Cape Fear River.
Tide predictions and water levels from NOAA CO-OPS. For planning only, not for navigation. Real water levels can differ because of wind, air pressure and river flow. Always check conditions on site.