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Ketchikan lives on the water. Tides in Tongass Narrows set when skiffs and the fishing fleet can work the harbours, how the floats sit at Thomas Basin and Bar Harbor, and the pull on the airport-ferry crossing. These are NOAA's official predictions for the downtown gauge.
Predictions, not the live water
These are astronomical tide predictions. Strong winds, heavy rain runoff and low pressure can push the real water higher or lower, and stack up in the narrows — give yourself margin around the floats and the ramps.
Right now
Going out
The tide is
water now about 13.2 ft (4.0 m), estimated from the predicted highs and lows
2:07 PM
Next high water
17.2 ft (5.2 m)
8:00 AM
Next low water
1.7 ft (0.5 m)
Today
Time
Tide
Height
2:18 AM
High water
15.5 ft (4.7 m)
8:00 AM
Low water
1.7 ft (0.5 m)
2:07 PM
High water
17.2 ft (5.2 m)
8:33 PM
Low water
-1.4 ft (-0.4 m)
The week ahead
Day
Time
Tide
Height
Tue, Oct 13
2:55 AM
High
14.8 ft (4.5 m)
8:32 AM
Low
2.8 ft (0.8 m)
2:37 PM
High
16.6 ft (5.1 m)
9:07 PM
Low
-0.7 ft (-0.2 m)
Wed, Oct 14
3:33 AM
High
13.9 ft (4.2 m)
9:04 AM
Low
3.9 ft (1.2 m)
3:08 PM
High
15.8 ft (4.8 m)
9:43 PM
Low
0.3 ft (0.1 m)
Thu, Oct 15
4:12 AM
High
12.9 ft (3.9 m)
9:38 AM
Low
5.0 ft (1.5 m)
3:41 PM
High
14.8 ft (4.5 m)
10:24 PM
Low
1.5 ft (0.5 m)
Fri, Oct 16
4:58 AM
High
11.9 ft (3.6 m)
10:17 AM
Low
6.0 ft (1.8 m)
4:20 PM
High
13.7 ft (4.2 m)
11:13 PM
Low
2.6 ft (0.8 m)
Sat, Oct 17
5:57 AM
High
11.0 ft (3.3 m)
11:09 AM
Low
7.0 ft (2.1 m)
Heights are above mean lower low water (MLLW) — roughly the average lowest tide — not above the dock or the sand. Times are local (AKDT). The NOAA gauge sits on the downtown Ketchikan waterfront in Tongass Narrows, so these heights are for the harbour and the airport-ferry crossing. Out at the canneries and up the inlets the timing and range run a little different.
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 Ketchikan (9450460) from NOAA Tides & Currents, National Ocean Service (CO-OPS). Retrieved October 12 at 3:48 AM.