Blynman Canal ent., Gloucester Harbor tidal current predictions

Now

Ebb 2.3 ktToward SE (130°)

Next slack

5:41 PMEDT

Next max flood

2.9 kt8:24 PM

Next max ebb

3.3 kt2:14 PM

Knots along the channel: above the line the flood, running in toward NW (310°); below it the ebb, running out toward SE (130°). Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Today: ebb 3.2 kt 1:39 AM, slack 5:17 AM, flood 2.9 kt 8:10 AM, slack 11:06 AM, ebb 3.3 kt 2:14 PM, slack 5:41 PM, flood 2.9 kt 8:24 PM, slack 11:15 PM.

• Coastal Flood Warning Coastal Flood Warning issued September 26 at 2:00AM EDT until September 27 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MAUntil Sun 8:00 PM
  Full text

  * WHAT...For the Coastal Flood Warning, up to one foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways (4.0 to 12.6 feet Mean Lower Low Water). For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 6 to 13 feet in the surf zone. * WHERE...Eastern Essex MA, Suffolk MA, Eastern Norfolk MA, Eastern Plymouth MA, Barnstable MA, Dukes MA and Nantucket MA Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Strong northeast winds with large waves will result in minor coastal flooding with pockets of moderate coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles from late today through the weekend. The water also may struggle to vacate the area after the high tides given persistent strong northeast winds. The greatest risk for coastal flooding appears to be setting up south of Boston and onto the Cape and Islands. In addition...the long duration of northeast winds coupled with large waves over multiple high tide cycles will result in areas of severe beach erosion for a prolonged period.

  Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. If travel is required, do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.

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. This is a subordinate station: NOAA predicts it from a nearby harmonic station by fixed corrections to the times and speeds of its slack waters and maxima, so the curve between them is less exact.

• Gloucester Harbor entranceSubordinate current station2.0 mi
• Annisquam Harbor LightSubordinate current station4.1 mi
• Little Misery IslandHarmonic current station8.0 mi
• Plum Island Sound entranceSubordinate current station8.8 mi
• Haste ShoalHarmonic current station10 mi
• Marblehead ChannelHarmonic current station11 mi
• Fort Pickering, 0.2nm south ofHarmonic current station12 mi
• Nahant, 1.8 nmi NE of East PointSubordinate current station16 mi

• Tide times at Gloucester Harbor 0.7 mi
• Tide times at Annisquam, Lobster Cove 3.1 mi
• Tide times at Rockport 4.5 mi
• Forecast for Gloucester, MA
• Open the live map with tidal currents
• All tidal current stations in Massachusetts

Tidal current predictions from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), station ACT0841, bin 1: original at NOAA. Marine alerts from the National Weather Service.