Tides Today & Tomorrow in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA

TIDE TIMES for Tuesday, August 18, 2026
The tide is currently rising in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA.
Next low tide : 10:31 pm (1.2 ft)
Next high tide : in 6h 46m at 3:14 pm (5.0 ft)
Sunset today : 7:55 pm
Sunrise tomorrow : 6:27 am
Moon phase : First Quarter (37% illuminated)
Tide Station Location : Station #9413745
Common Questions About Tides

Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA Tides - Apr 1940

DateHigh TideLow TideSunMoonDate
AMftPMftAMftPMftRiseSet
1Mon5:384.27:253.812:340.15:536:30Waning Crescent1Mon
2Tue6:394.27:594.012:521.91:190.25:516:31Waning Crescent2Tue
3Wed7:314.28:274.11:381.61:560.35:506:32Waning Crescent3Wed
4Thu8:164.28:524.32:181.32:290.55:486:33Waning Crescent4Thu
5Fri8:574.19:164.42:531.02:580.75:476:33New Moon5Fri
6Sat9:364.19:404.63:270.73:260.95:466:34New Moon6Sat
7Sun10:144.010:054.74:010.53:541.15:446:35New Moon7Sun
8Mon10:543.810:314.74:360.34:221.45:436:36New Moon8Mon
9Tue11:363.711:004.85:130.24:511.65:416:37New Moon9Tue
10Wed12:243.55:530.15:221.95:406:38Waxing Crescent10Wed
11Thu1:193.36:370.15:572.25:386:39Waxing Crescent11Thu
12Fri12:084.72:253.27:270.16:402.45:376:40Waxing Crescent12Fri
13Sat12:534.53:383.28:240.17:412.65:366:40First Quarter13Sat
14Sun1:504.44:473.39:270.19:052.65:346:41First Quarter14Sun
15Mon3:014.35:413.610:300.010:342.45:336:42First Quarter15Mon
16Tue4:194.26:243.911:280.011:481.95:326:43First Quarter16Tue
17Wed5:344.37:024.312:19-0.15:306:44Waxing Gibbous17Wed
18Thu6:434.37:394.712:491.31:060.05:296:45Waxing Gibbous18Thu
19Fri7:464.48:165.11:430.61:500.25:286:46Waxing Gibbous19Fri
20Sat8:444.48:545.52:350.02:330.45:266:47Full Moon20Sat
21Sun9:414.49:335.73:25-0.63:160.75:256:47Full Moon21Sun
22Mon10:374.310:135.84:15-0.93:591.15:246:48Full Moon22Mon
23Tue11:344.110:565.75:05-1.14:441.55:226:49Waning Gibbous23Tue
24Wed12:343.95:56-1.15:311.85:216:50Waning Gibbous24Wed
25Thu1:393.76:49-0.96:242.25:206:51Waning Gibbous25Thu
26Fri12:295.12:483.67:45-0.67:272.45:196:52Waning Gibbous26Fri
27Sat1:254.63:583.68:44-0.38:462.65:176:53Third Quarter27Sat
28Sun2:304.25:023.79:460.010:172.55:166:54Third Quarter28Sun
29Mon3:443.85:553.910:460.211:362.25:156:55Third Quarter29Mon
30Tue5:003.66:354.111:390.55:146:55Third Quarter30Tue
DateHigh TideLow TideSunMoonDate
AMftPMftAMftPMftRiseSet
Tidal Data Source: (9413745)

Common Questions About Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA Tides

Show All
What time does the tide turn (slack tide) in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA today?

Slack tide in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA is approximately 6:52 pm — midway between the next high and low tide, when tidal current is weakest. This is the preferred window for boat crossings, underwater visibility, and fishing in areas with strong currents.

Is this week a spring tide or neap tide in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA?

Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA is currently in a transitional phase. Tonight's moon is 37% illuminated. Spring tides (largest swings) occur near new and full moons; neap tides (smallest swings) occur near first and third quarter moons. Tidal ranges this week are shifting between spring and neap.

What datum are Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA tide heights measured from?

Tide heights on this page are measured from Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), the U.S. NOAA standard. A height of 0 ft represents the 19-year average of each day's lower low tide. Negative values indicate a "minus tide" — water levels below that long-term reference.

What factors can affect the tide predictions for Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA?

Tide predictions for Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA come from NOAA's harmonic analysis and are typically accurate within about ±10 minutes on timing and ±0.5 ft on height. Actual water levels can deviate further due to sustained winds, atmospheric pressure changes, river flow, and storm surge. During major weather events, be sure to check US Harbors weather pages for factors that could impact tidal predictions.

Which NOAA station provides tide data for Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA?

Tide data for Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA is sourced from NOAA Station #9413745. View the official NOAA station page at https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stationhome.html?id=9413745.

What is the moon phase in Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA tonight?

Tonight the moon over Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA is First Quarter (37% illuminated). This places Santa Cruz (Monterey Bay), CA in a transitional tide cycle, so tidal ranges are shifting between spring and neap this week.

US Harbors Tidal Data

The data in our tide charts, tide tables, and tide graphs is provided by NOAA and others. These predictions are derived mathematically from numerous inputs, including data from historical tide stations and nearby locations where sensors are actively recording. As shown in the tide graph at the top of this page, “Predicted” tides (blue) are what forecasting models expect to happen. “Observed” tides (red) are those recorded by local sensors in real time, overlaid on the predictions for direct comparison. We display Observed water levels for a select group of harbors including Portland, Maine, where a physical sensor monitors water levels in real time.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TIDE DATA