Lopez Pass tidal current predictions
Ebbing 3.0 kt now, toward E (90°), easing. Slack at 11:42 PM, then flood to 1.9 kt at Sat 2:00 AM.
Now
Today, Fri, Sep 25, at 15 ft deep.
- Now
- Ebb 3.0 ktToward E (90°)
- Next slack
- 11:42 PMPDT
- Next max flood
- 1.9 ktSat 2:00 AM
- Next max ebb
- 2.8 ktSat 7:59 AM
Knots along the channel: above the line the flood, running in toward WNW (286°); below it the ebb, running out toward E (90°). Times are Pacific Daylight Time. Today: flood 1.6 kt 1:22 AM, slack 4:00 AM, ebb 2.9 kt 7:19 AM, slack 10:39 AM, flood 2.4 kt 1:16 PM, slack 4:49 PM, ebb 3.1 kt 8:25 PM, slack 11:42 PM.
Alerts in force1
National Weather Service marine and coastal products at this station’s position.
- Small Craft Advisory Small Craft Advisory issued September 25 at 2:03PM PDT until September 26 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Seattle WAUntil Sat 5:00 AM
Full text
* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 kt. * WHERE...Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands. * WHEN...Until 5 AM PDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 21 to 33 knots and/or seas 10 feet or higher are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions.
7-day current table
Strongest flood this week 3.0 kt, Wed, Sep 30 at 4:40 AM. Strongest ebb 3.9 kt, Mon, Sep 28 at 9:37 PM.
| Time | Event | Speed | Toward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sep 25 | |||
| 1:22 AM | Maximum flood | 1.6 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 4:00 AM | Slack water | ||
| 7:19 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.9 kt | E (90°) |
| 10:39 AM | Slack water | ||
| 1:16 PM | Maximum flood | 2.4 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 4:49 PM | Slack water | ||
| 8:25 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.1 kt | E (90°) |
| 11:42 PM | Slack water | ||
| Sat, Sep 26 | |||
| 2:00 AM | Maximum flood | 1.9 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 4:54 AM | Slack water | ||
| 7:59 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.8 kt | E (90°) |
| 11:12 AM | Slack water | ||
| 1:44 PM | Maximum flood | 2.5 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 5:06 PM | Slack water | ||
| 8:45 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.5 kt | E (90°) |
| Sun, Sep 27 | |||
| 12:14 AM | Slack water | ||
| 2:39 AM | Maximum flood | 2.3 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 5:48 AM | Slack water | ||
| 8:42 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.6 kt | E (90°) |
| 11:49 AM | Slack water | ||
| 2:19 PM | Maximum flood | 2.4 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 5:24 PM | Slack water | ||
| 9:08 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.7 kt | E (90°) |
| Mon, Sep 28 | |||
| 12:45 AM | Slack water | ||
| 3:18 AM | Maximum flood | 2.7 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 6:41 AM | Slack water | ||
| 9:29 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.5 kt | E (90°) |
| 12:33 PM | Slack water | ||
| 2:58 PM | Maximum flood | 2.1 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 5:43 PM | Slack water | ||
| 9:37 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.9 kt | E (90°) |
| Tue, Sep 29 | |||
| 1:16 AM | Slack water | ||
| 3:59 AM | Maximum flood | 2.9 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 7:35 AM | Slack water | ||
| 10:18 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.3 kt | E (90°) |
| 1:24 PM | Slack water | ||
| 3:42 PM | Maximum flood | 1.7 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 6:05 PM | Slack water | ||
| 10:11 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.9 kt | E (90°) |
| Wed, Sep 30 | |||
| 1:52 AM | Slack water | ||
| 4:40 AM | Maximum flood | 3.0 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 8:28 AM | Slack water | ||
| 11:07 AM | Maximum ebb | 2.1 kt | E (90°) |
| 2:23 PM | Slack water | ||
| 4:28 PM | Maximum flood | 1.3 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 6:34 PM | Slack water | ||
| 10:50 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.7 kt | E (90°) |
| Thu, Oct 1 | |||
| 2:34 AM | Slack water | ||
| 5:26 AM | Maximum flood | 2.9 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 9:24 AM | Slack water | ||
| 12:00 PM | Maximum ebb | 1.8 kt | E (90°) |
| 3:30 PM | Slack water | ||
| 5:20 PM | Maximum flood | 0.9 kt | WNW (286°) |
| 7:11 PM | Slack water | ||
| 11:36 PM | Maximum ebb | 3.5 kt | E (90°) |
Other depths
NOAA predicts the current at more than one depth here. This page is for the shallowest; the water deeper down turns at different times and runs at different speeds.
| Depth | Strongest flood today | Strongest ebb today |
|---|---|---|
| 15 ft | 2.4 kt 1:16 PM | 3.1 kt 8:25 PM |
| 35 ft | 2.4 kt 1:16 PM | 3.1 kt 8:24 PM |
| 58 ft | 2.5 kt 1:15 PM | 3.0 kt 8:26 PM |
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.
Nearby8
The closest other NOAA current stations, nearest first.
- Thatcher PassHarmonic current station
- Rosario StraitHarmonic current station
- Fauntleroy Point Light, east ofHarmonic current station
- Frost-Willow Island, betweenSubordinate current station
- Belle Rock Light, east ofHarmonic current station
- Point Colville, 1.4 nm east ofHarmonic current station
- Green Point, 0.8 mile northwest ofSubordinate current station
- Allan PassHarmonic current station
More for this place
Sources
Tidal current predictions from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), station PUG1730, bin 17: original at NOAA. Marine alerts from the National Weather Service.