Western Channel tidal current predictions

Now

SlackTurning

Next slack

7:59 AMAKDT

Next max flood

0.3 kt10:49 AM

Next max ebb

0.5 kt5:09 PM

Knots along the channel: above the line the flood, running in toward NNE (29°); below it the ebb, running out toward SSW (210°). Times are Alaska Daylight Time. Today: slack 1:21 AM, ebb 0.5 kt 4:53 AM, slack 7:59 AM, flood 0.3 kt 10:49 AM, slack 1:43 PM, ebb 0.5 kt 5:09 PM, slack 8:12 PM, flood 0.4 kt 11:07 PM.

• Small Craft Advisory Small Craft Advisory issued September 26 at 2:59AM AKDT until September 26 at 6:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AKUntil 6:00 PM
  Full text

  * WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 kt and seas 7 to 10 ft expected. * WHERE...Yakutat Bay, Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision out to 15 NM, Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe out to 15 NM and Cape Edgecumbe to Cape Spencer out to 15 NM. * WHEN...From 7 AM this morning to 6 PM AKDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

  Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

• Small Craft Advisory Small Craft Advisory issued September 26 at 2:58AM AKDT until September 27 at 5:00AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AKUntil Sun 5:00 AM
  Full text

  Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to Cape Suckling out 100 NM Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Seas forecasts represent the average of the highest one-third of the combined windwave and swell height. .TODAY...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain early in the morning. .TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain. .SUN...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain. .MON...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. .WED...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 8 ft.

• Small Craft Advisory Small Craft Advisory issued September 25 at 3:33PM AKDT until September 26 at 5:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AKUntil 5:00 PM
  Full text

  Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to Cape Suckling out 100 NM Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Seas forecasts represent the average of the highest one-third of the combined windwave and swell height. .TONIGHT...Light winds becoming SE 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. .SAT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain. .SAT NIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain. .SUN...S wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Showers. .MON...S wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. .WED...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

The flood is the tidal current running in from the sea, the ebb the current running back out. Slack water is the short turn between them, when the current is weakest: the time to cross a strong channel, anchor, or dive. Slack in a channel is not the time of high or low tide; it can come hours after.

Speeds are knots along the channel's main axis, and directions are degrees true toward which the water flows, as NOAA prints its tables. A current against the wind stands the waves up steep and close together.

Predictions are astronomical: the moon and the sun, not the weather. Strong wind, river flow after heavy rain and storm surge all change the real current.

• Sitka Harbor, channel off Harbor IslandSubordinate current station2.3 mi
• West Channel (narrows)Subordinate current station9.8 mi
• East Channel (narrows)Subordinate current station9.9 mi
• Creek Point, 0.44 nmi SE ofHarmonic current station12 mi
• Allan Pt., 1.5mile W of, Nakwasina PassageSubordinate current station14 mi
• Whitestone Narrows, S of Whitestone PointHarmonic current station15 mi
• Biorka ChannelSubordinate current station15 mi
• Wyvill ReefSubordinate current station17 mi

• Tide times at Sitka 1.9 mi
• Tide times at Olga Point, Olga Strait 13 mi
• Tide times at Symonds Bay, Biorka Island 14 mi
• Forecast for Sitka, AK
• Open the live map with tidal currents
• All tidal current stations in Alaska

Tidal current predictions from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), station SEA0409, bin 15: original at NOAA. Marine alerts from the National Weather Service.