When is low tide on the North Sea? Finding the right tide times

1. Choose the right place

Don’t just search for “North Sea low tide today”: one time does not apply to the whole coast. Choose the place where you want to arrive, or a neighbouring gauge that is clearly assigned to it.

The tide map shows selected gauges on the German North Sea coast. A gauge is a measuring station. For St. Peter-Ording, for example, the display uses the reference gauge at the Eider barrage and says so explicitly.

2. Check the phase and the next tide

“Ebb” means the water level is falling. “Flood” means it is rising. Low tide and high tide are the turning points. So don’t just look at the name of the phase, but also at the time of the next high or low tide.

If you know when you will arrive, set that time in the display. You then see which phase is expected. The forecast applies to one place and can differ from one stretch of beach to the next.

3. Tell tide and weather apart

The astronomical tide describes the regular course of the tides and does not take current wind into account. Wind and weather can change the water level that actually occurs. For this the BSH publishes water level forecasts and storm surge notices.

For planning, you can switch the tide display between the tide curve and the BSH water level model. Before you travel, also check the current BSH notices and the information at your destination, especially in strong wind or during a storm surge warning.

What a gauge time tells you about the beach

A reference gauge gives orientation, but not an exact water depth for every point on the beach. Tidal creeks, sandbanks, groynes and the local coastline change conditions. For swimming, weather, currents, designated bathing areas and local warnings also matter.