Tides & the Columbia Bar

NOAA tide predictions at Astoria (Tongue Point), with a plain warning about the Columbia River Bar.

Tide predictions for the lower Columbia River at Astoria. The bar at the river mouth is the defining local hazard — the Buoy 10 fleet, beach walkers and clam diggers all read the tide before going out.

The Columbia River Bar

Where the river meets the ocean, ebb tide against an incoming swell builds steep, breaking seas — the reason this stretch is called the Graveyard of the Pacific. Before crossing the bar or fishing Buoy 10, check the U.S. Coast Guard bar restriction report and the National Weather Service marine forecast for the bar; both can close the bar to small craft when these tide tables alone look calm.

On the beaches and clam flats

A low tide that looks like a long window can turn fast. Watch the rising tide and never get cut off on a sandbar or jetty; sneaker waves and strong currents are common on this coast year-round.

Right now

Coming in

The tide is

water now about 4.4 ft (1.4 m), estimated from the predicted highs and lows

10:40 p.m.

Next high water

7.4 ft (2.2 m)

6:04 a.m.

Next low water

0.0 ft (0.0 m)

Today

Time	Tide	Height
5:15 a.m.	Low water	0.4 ft (0.1 m)
11:50 a.m.	High water	6.1 ft (1.9 m)
4:50 p.m.	Low water	3.4 ft (1.0 m)
10:40 p.m.	High water	7.4 ft (2.2 m)

The week ahead

Day	Time	Tide	Height
Mon, Aug 24	6:04 a.m.	Low	0.0 ft (0.0 m)
	12:34 p.m.	High	6.5 ft (2.0 m)
	5:46 p.m.	Low	3.0 ft (0.9 m)
	11:35 p.m.	High	7.6 ft (2.3 m)
Tue, Aug 25	6:45 a.m.	Low	-0.4 ft (-0.1 m)
	1:12 p.m.	High	6.8 ft (2.1 m)
	6:35 p.m.	Low	2.5 ft (0.8 m)
Wed, Aug 26	12:22 a.m.	High	7.9 ft (2.4 m)
	7:21 a.m.	Low	-0.6 ft (-0.2 m)
	1:45 p.m.	High	7.1 ft (2.2 m)
	7:19 p.m.	Low	2.0 ft (0.6 m)
Thu, Aug 27	1:05 a.m.	High	8.0 ft (2.4 m)
	7:54 a.m.	Low	-0.8 ft (-0.2 m)
	2:15 p.m.	High	7.4 ft (2.2 m)
	8:00 p.m.	Low	1.5 ft (0.4 m)
Fri, Aug 28	1:47 a.m.	High	8.1 ft (2.5 m)
	8:25 a.m.	Low	-0.7 ft (-0.2 m)
	2:42 p.m.	High	7.6 ft (2.3 m)

Heights are above mean lower low water (MLLW) — roughly the average lowest tide — not above the dock or the sand. Times are local (PDT). NOAA's prediction point is at Tongue Point, about 5 miles upriver from the downtown waterfront, so highs and lows at the Riverwalk, the West Mooring Basin or the beaches run a little different from the times shown here. Treat these as the Tongue Point gauge, not a dock-side reading.

Predictions, not measurements

These are astronomical tide predictions. Wind, air pressure and storm surge can push the real water level well above or below them — in bad weather, check the National Weather Service forecast and warnings at weather.gov before trusting a number here. In an emergency on or near the water, call 911, or hail the Coast Guard on marine VHF channel 16.

Official predictions for station Astoria (Tongue Point) (9439040) from NOAA Tides & Currents, National Ocean Service (CO-OPS). Retrieved August 23 at 6:48 p.m..

Tides & the Columbia Bar

Tides & the Columbia Bar

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