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 : 8:24 am (2.2 ft)
Next high tide : in 2h 49m at 3:21 am (3.4 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 - Jan 1941

DateHigh TideLow TideSunMoonDate
AMftPMftAMftPMftRiseSet
1Wed1:194.312:034.96:192.57:04-0.17:215:02Waxing Crescent1Wed
2Thu2:054.312:524.37:202.57:440.37:215:03Waxing Crescent2Thu
3Fri2:514.41:503.88:322.58:260.87:215:03First Quarter3Fri
4Sat3:364.43:033.39:532.39:101.37:215:04First Quarter4Sat
5Sun4:214.64:313.011:111.99:581.77:215:05First Quarter5Sun
6Mon5:034.76:023.012:141.57:215:06First Quarter6Mon
7Tue5:444.97:173.11:031.07:215:07Waxing Gibbous7Tue
8Wed6:225.18:143.21:440.67:215:08Waxing Gibbous8Wed
9Thu6:595.39:003.412:262.42:200.27:215:09Waxing Gibbous9Thu
10Fri7:355.59:393.61:112.52:55-0.27:215:10Waxing Gibbous10Fri
11Sat8:125.710:153.71:542.53:30-0.57:215:11Full Moon11Sat
12Sun8:495.810:503.92:372.54:05-0.77:215:12Full Moon12Sun
13Mon9:275.811:264.03:202.44:40-0.87:205:13Full Moon13Mon
14Tue10:075.84:052.35:17-0.87:205:14Full Moon14Tue
15Wed12:034.110:51 AM5.54:542.35:55-0.77:205:15Waning Gibbous15Wed
16Thu12:424.311:38 AM5.25:482.26:34-0.47:205:16Waning Gibbous16Thu
17Fri1:244.512:324.76:492.07:150.07:195:17Waning Gibbous17Fri
18Sat2:094.71:374.18:001.98:000.67:195:18Third Quarter18Sat
19Sun2:584.92:573.69:201.68:501.17:185:19Third Quarter19Sun
20Mon3:505.24:323.210:431.19:481.67:185:20Third Quarter20Mon
21Tue4:445.46:083.211:560.510:532.07:175:21Third Quarter21Tue
22Wed5:395.77:283.412:57-0.17:175:22Waning Crescent22Wed
23Thu6:325.98:303.61:50-0.57:165:23Waning Crescent23Thu
24Fri7:236.09:193.81:002.32:38-0.87:165:24Waning Crescent24Fri
25Sat8:116.010:024.01:562.23:21-1.07:155:25New Moon25Sat
26Sun8:565.910:414.12:472.24:02-1.07:145:26New Moon26Sun
27Mon9:395.811:184.23:352.14:40-0.87:145:27New Moon27Mon
28Tue10:215.511:544.34:212.05:16-0.67:135:28New Moon28Tue
29Wed11:025.15:072.05:50-0.27:125:29Waxing Crescent29Wed
30Thu12:304.311:43 AM4.65:542.06:240.27:125:30Waxing Crescent30Thu
31Fri1:064.312:284.16:442.06:570.67:115:32Waxing Crescent31Fri
DateHigh TideLow TideSunMoonDate
AMftPMftAMftPMftRiseSet
Tidal Data Source: (9413745)

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

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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 5:52 am — 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