Cape Cod Canal, Railroad Bridge, midchannel tidal current predictions

Now

Ebb 4.4 ktToward WSW (248°)

Next slack

4:00 PMEDT

Next max flood

5.1 kt6:35 PM

Next max ebb

5.8 ktSun 12:45 AM

Knots along the channel: above the line the flood, running in toward ENE (66°); below it the ebb, running out toward WSW (248°). Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Today: ebb 5.3 kt 12:01 AM, slack 3:39 AM, flood 4.9 kt 6:13 AM, slack 10:00 AM, ebb 5.2 kt 12:28 PM, slack 4:00 PM, flood 5.1 kt 6:35 PM, slack 10:13 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.

• Cape Cod Canal, West EndCurrent meter (NOAA PORTS)0.7 mi
• Bourne Highway bridgeSubordinate current station1.7 mi
• Hog NeckHarmonic current station1.8 mi
• BournedaleHarmonic current station2.9 mi
• Sagamore BridgeHarmonic current station4.3 mi
• Abiels ledgeHarmonic current station4.7 mi
• Wareham River, off Barneys PointSubordinate current station4.8 mi
• Wareham River, off Long Beach PointSubordinate current station5.3 mi

• Tide times at Cape Cod Canal, RR. bridge 0.1 mi
• Tide times at Gray Gables 0.7 mi
• Tide times at Cape Cod Canal, Bourne Bridge 1.1 mi
• Forecast for Buzzards Bay, 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 COD0904, bin 15: original at NOAA. Marine alerts from the National Weather Service.