Channel, middle tidal current predictions
Ebbing 0.9 kt now, toward ENE (76°), easing. Slack at 5:01 AM, then flood to 1.5 kt at 8:01 AM.
Now
Today, Sat, Sep 26, at 15 ft deep.
- Now
- Ebb 0.9 ktToward ENE (76°)
- Next slack
- 5:01 AMEDT
- Next max flood
- 1.5 kt8:01 AM
- Next max ebb
- 1.4 kt2:13 PM
Knots along the channel: above the line the flood, running in toward WSW (244°); below it the ebb, running out toward ENE (76°). Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Today: ebb 1.3 kt 1:42 AM, slack 5:01 AM, flood 1.5 kt 8:01 AM, slack 11:35 AM, ebb 1.4 kt 2:13 PM, slack 5:39 PM, flood 1.3 kt 8:17 PM, slack 11:27 PM.
Alerts in force1
National Weather Service marine and coastal products at this station’s position.
- Small Craft Advisory Small Craft Advisory issued September 26 at 1:12AM EDT until September 27 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VAUntil Sun 7:00 AM
Full text
* WHAT...North winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 2 to 4 ft. * WHERE...James River from JRB to HRBT, Including the Elizabeth River. * WHEN...Until 7 AM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
7-day current table
Strongest flood this week 2.1 kt, Wed, Sep 30 at 11:03 AM. Strongest ebb 1.6 kt, Tue, Sep 29 at 3:24 AM.
| Time | Event | Speed | Toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 26 | |||
| 1:42 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.3 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 5:01 AM | Slack water | ||
| 8:01 AM | Maximum flood | 1.5 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 11:35 AM | Slack water | ||
| 2:13 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.4 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 5:39 PM | Slack water | ||
| 8:17 PM | Maximum flood | 1.3 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 11:27 PM | Slack water | ||
| Sun, Sep 27 | |||
| 2:13 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.4 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 5:32 AM | Slack water | ||
| 8:41 AM | Maximum flood | 1.7 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 12:20 PM | Slack water | ||
| 2:54 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.4 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 6:24 PM | Slack water | ||
| 8:58 PM | Maximum flood | 1.2 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 11:56 PM | Slack water | ||
| Mon, Sep 28 | |||
| 2:46 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.5 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 6:07 AM | Slack water | ||
| 9:26 AM | Maximum flood | 1.9 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 1:09 PM | Slack water | ||
| 3:40 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.3 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 7:15 PM | Slack water | ||
| 9:43 PM | Maximum flood | 1.0 kt | WSW (244°) |
| Tue, Sep 29 | |||
| 12:27 AM | Slack water | ||
| 3:24 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.6 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 6:47 AM | Slack water | ||
| 10:14 AM | Maximum flood | 2.0 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 2:01 PM | Slack water | ||
| 4:32 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.2 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 8:13 PM | Slack water | ||
| 10:33 PM | Maximum flood | 0.9 kt | WSW (244°) |
| Wed, Sep 30 | |||
| 1:04 AM | Slack water | ||
| 4:07 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.5 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 7:32 AM | Slack water | ||
| 11:03 AM | Maximum flood | 2.1 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 2:56 PM | Slack water | ||
| 5:30 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.2 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 9:18 PM | Slack water | ||
| 11:24 PM | Maximum flood | 0.8 kt | WSW (244°) |
| Thu, Oct 1 | |||
| 1:48 AM | Slack water | ||
| 4:59 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.4 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 8:23 AM | Slack water | ||
| 11:53 AM | Maximum flood | 2.0 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 3:53 PM | Slack water | ||
| 6:31 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.1 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 10:23 PM | Slack water | ||
| Fri, Oct 2 | |||
| 12:18 AM | Maximum flood | 0.7 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 2:43 AM | Slack water | ||
| 5:58 AM | Maximum ebb | 1.3 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 9:18 AM | Slack water | ||
| 12:45 PM | Maximum flood | 1.9 kt | WSW (244°) |
| 4:53 PM | Slack water | ||
| 7:34 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.1 kt | ENE (76°) |
| 11:25 PM | Slack water | ||
What this means
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.
Nearby8
The closest other NOAA current stations, nearest first.
- Middle Ground, 1 mile south ofSubordinate current station
- Newport News Channel, west endCurrent meter (NOAA PORTS)
- Norfolk Harbor Reach (Buoy R '8')Subordinate current station
- James River EntranceHarmonic current station
- Sewells Point, pierheadSubordinate current station
- Sewells Point (Naval Station Norfolk)Current meter (NOAA PORTS)
- Pig Point, 1.8 miles northeast ofSubordinate current station
- 0.15nm WSW of Pier No.2Harmonic current station
More for this place
Sources
Tidal current predictions from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), station ACT5211, bin 1: original at NOAA. Marine alerts from the National Weather Service.