Saipan Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

Northern Mariana IslandsNWS zone MPZ003NWS Tiyan, Guam

No rip current risk is being issued for these beaches right now. The office issued one, but it does not cover this zone at the moment.

Sunset 6:13 PM.

Rip current risk: Not givenNo forecast in issue
Sunset: 6:13 PMGMT+10

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Saipan Beaches. Open it for the live map, where it pans and zooms.

Open the live map with rip current risk

Map layer from NOAA National Weather Service surf zone forecasts. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Saipan Beaches. Those are the products a coastal office issues when the water turns dangerous. When one is issued it appears here and on the alerts page for this area.

Today and tomorrow

From the National Weather Service beach forecast.

Today

Rip current risk: No rip current forecast issued for this area

Tomorrow

Rip current risk: No rip current forecast issued for this area

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan. Issued 4:28 PM GMT+10 on Tue, Sep 22 by the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam.

36 hour Surf Zone Forecast for the Marianas from 600 PM Tuesday
through 600 AM Thursday

Tonight

Rip Current Risk: Moderate *
North facing reefs: 5 to 7 feet
East facing reefs: 4 to 6 feet
South facing reefs: 1 to 3 feet
West facing reefs: 2 to 4 feet
Primary swell: North at 4 to 5 feet
Primary period: 9 seconds
Secondary swell: Northeast at around 2 feet
Secondary period: 9 seconds
Pago buoy: 85 Degrees
Winds: South at 10 to 15 mph

Surf Height Swell/Period Water Temperature

Wednesday

Rip Current Risk: Moderate *
North facing reefs: 5 to 7 feet
East facing reefs: 3 to 5 feet
South facing reefs: 1 to 3 feet
West facing reefs: 2 to 4 feet
Primary swell: North at 4 to 5 feet
Primary period: 9 seconds
Secondary swell: Northeast at around 2 feet
Secondary period: 10 seconds
Max Heat Index: Around 100
Winds: South at 10 to 15 mph

Surf Height Swell/Period

Wednesday night

Rip Current Risk: Moderate *
North facing reefs: 4 to 6 feet
East facing reefs: 3 to 5 feet
South facing reefs: 1 to 3 feet
West facing reefs: 2 to 4 feet
Primary swell: North at 3 to 4 feet
Primary period: 8 seconds
Secondary swell: Northeast at around 2 feet
Secondary period: 9 seconds
Winds: Southwest at 10 to 15 mph

Surf Height Swell/Period High tide 2.1 feet at 6:00 PM Tuesday Low tide 1.4 feet at 11:28 PM Tuesday High tide 2.0 feet at 4:24 AM Wednesday Low tide 0.2 feet at 11:19 AM Wednesday High tide 2.2 feet at 6:24 PM Wednesday Low tide 1.2 feet at 12:03 AM Thursday High tide 2.0 feet at 5:57 PM Tuesday Low tide 1.3 feet at 11:22 PM Tuesday High tide 1.9 feet at 4:21 AM Wednesday Low tide 0.2 feet at 11:13 AM Wednesday High tide 2.1 feet at 6:21 PM Wednesday Low tide 1.2 feet at 11:57 PM Wednesday High tide 1.6 feet at 5:58 PM Tuesday Low tide 0.5 feet at 11:05 PM Tuesday High tide 1.5 feet at 4:22 AM Wednesday Low tide 0.1 feet at 10:56 AM Wednesday High tide 1.6 feet at 6:22 PM Wednesday Low tide 0.4 feet at 11:40 PM Wednesday High tide 1.9 feet at 6:15 PM Tuesday Low tide 1.4 feet at 11:15 PM Tuesday High tide 1.8 feet at 4:23 AM Wednesday Low tide 0.2 feet at 11:20 AM Wednesday High tide 2.0 feet at 6:37 PM Wednesday Low tide 1.2 feet at 11:50 PM Wednesday * Low Risk of rip currents - Strong currents can still occur near jetties and reef channels. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. Moderate Risk of rip currents - Wave conditions support stronger or more frequent rip currents. Always have a flotation device with you in the water. High Risk of rip currents - Large waves will produce strong rip currents, especially along narrow reefs and beaches. Rip currents will be life threatening. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the beach rather than against the current.

The product as issued

FZPQ50 PGUM 220628
SRFGUM

Surf Zone Forecast for the Mariana Islands
National Weather Service Tiyan GU
428 PM ChST Tue Sep 22 2026

.DISCUSSION...There will be a moderate risk of rip currents along 
north and east facing reefs of the Marianas through at least 
Thursday. A moderate risk of lightning will continue through the 
weekend.

$$

GUZ001-MPZ001>003-222200-
Guam-Rota-Tinian-Saipan-
428 PM ChST Tue Sep 22 2026

36 hour Surf Zone Forecast for the Marianas from 600 PM Tuesday
through 600 AM Thursday

.TONIGHT...
Rip Current Risk.....Moderate *. 
Surf Height
      North facing reefs............5 to 7 feet. 
      East  facing reefs............4 to 6 feet. 
      South facing reefs............1 to 3 feet. 
      West  facing reefs............2 to 4 feet. 
Swell/Period
      Primary swell................North at 4 to 5 feet. 
      Primary period...............9 seconds. 
      Secondary swell..............Northeast at around 2 feet. 
      Secondary period.............9 seconds. 
Water Temperature
      Pago buoy..........85 Degrees. 
Winds...............South at 10 to 15 mph. 

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk.....Moderate *. 
Surf Height
      North facing reefs............5 to 7 feet. 
      East  facing reefs............3 to 5 feet. 
      South facing reefs............1 to 3 feet. 
      West  facing reefs............2 to 4 feet. 
Swell/Period
      Primary swell................North at 4 to 5 feet. 
      Primary period...............9 seconds. 
      Secondary swell..............Northeast at around 2 feet. 
      Secondary period.............10 seconds. 
Max Heat Index.........Around 100. 
Winds...............South at 10 to 15 mph. 

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
Rip Current Risk.....Moderate *. 
Surf Height
      North facing reefs............4 to 6 feet. 
      East  facing reefs............3 to 5 feet. 
      South facing reefs............1 to 3 feet. 
      West  facing reefs............2 to 4 feet. 
Swell/Period
      Primary swell................North at 3 to 4 feet. 
      Primary period...............8 seconds. 
      Secondary swell..............Northeast at around 2 feet. 
      Secondary period.............9 seconds. 
Winds...............Southwest at 10 to 15 mph. 


Tide information for the next 36 hours...

At Apra Harbor, Guam...
High tide  2.1 feet at  6:00 PM Tuesday
Low  tide  1.4 feet at 11:28 PM Tuesday
High tide  2.0 feet at  4:24 AM Wednesday
Low  tide  0.2 feet at 11:19 AM Wednesday
High tide  2.2 feet at  6:24 PM Wednesday
Low  tide  1.2 feet at 12:03 AM Thursday

At Rota Island...
High tide  2.0 feet at  5:57 PM Tuesday
Low  tide  1.3 feet at 11:22 PM Tuesday
High tide  1.9 feet at  4:21 AM Wednesday
Low  tide  0.2 feet at 11:13 AM Wednesday
High tide  2.1 feet at  6:21 PM Wednesday
Low  tide  1.2 feet at 11:57 PM Wednesday

At Tinian Island...
High tide  1.6 feet at  5:58 PM Tuesday
Low  tide  0.5 feet at 11:05 PM Tuesday
High tide  1.5 feet at  4:22 AM Wednesday
Low  tide  0.1 feet at 10:56 AM Wednesday
High tide  1.6 feet at  6:22 PM Wednesday
Low  tide  0.4 feet at 11:40 PM Wednesday

At Tanapag Harbor, Saipan...
High tide  1.9 feet at  6:15 PM Tuesday
Low  tide  1.4 feet at 11:15 PM Tuesday
High tide  1.8 feet at  4:23 AM Wednesday
Low  tide  0.2 feet at 11:20 AM Wednesday
High tide  2.0 feet at  6:37 PM Wednesday
Low  tide  1.2 feet at 11:50 PM Wednesday


* Low Risk of rip currents - Strong currents can still occur near
jetties and reef channels. Always have a flotation device with you
in the water.

Moderate Risk of rip currents - Wave conditions support stronger or
more frequent rip currents. Always have a flotation device with you
in the water.

High Risk of rip currents - Large waves will produce strong rip
currents, especially along narrow reefs and beaches. Rip currents
will be life threatening. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel
to the beach rather than against the current.

$$

The water now, measured

No buoy or coastal station within 90 miles of these beaches has reported the water in the last six hours.

Tides today

Tanapag Harbor, Saipan Island, 2.8 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide2:52 AM1.7 ft
Low tide10:37 AM0.2 ft
High tide6:15 PM1.9 ft
Low tide11:15 PM1.4 ft

Low tide often exposes the sandbars and channels that shape rip currents, and the risk can run higher for an hour or two either side of it. Full tide table for Tanapag Harbor, Saipan Island.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 6:06 AM
Sunset today: 6:13 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 6:06 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 6:13 PM

Times are Chamorro Standard Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the rip current risk does not fall with the light.

What this means

The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.

High	Life-threatening rip currents are likely. The surf zone is dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water.
Moderate	Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.
Low	Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

If a rip current carries you out

Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.

Thunderstorms and lightning

Thunderstorms build fast over water on a summer afternoon. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.

A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.

Nearby

The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.

More for this place

Sources

Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office GUM. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone MPZ003.