High Tide in Boston Today: What Most People Get Wrong

If you're planning a walk along Long Wharf or trying to figure out if your car is safe in that one low spot in the Seaport, you need the actual numbers. Not just "sometime this morning." Honestly, the harbor is a moody neighbor. Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, the water is doing exactly what the charts predicted, but there’s a bit more to the story than just a simple clock time.

The first high tide in Boston today hit at 10:47 AM, reaching a height of roughly 10.0 feet.

If you missed that one, don't sweat it. The ocean is coming back for a second round tonight. You've got another high tide peaking at 11:24 PM, though it’ll be a bit lower, topping out around 8.9 feet. Between those peaks, the water retreats significantly. We saw a low tide early this morning at 4:31 AM, and the next low point is scheduled for 5:09 PM.

Basically, the harbor is exhaling right now.

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Why Today’s Tides Feel a Little "Extra"

You might notice the water looks higher than usual, even for a standard high tide. There is a reason for that. Today actually coincides with a New Moon.

When the sun, moon, and Earth align like they are right now, their combined gravitational pull creates what we call "spring tides." No, it has nothing to do with the season. It just means the "springing forth" of the water. This alignment causes the highs to be higher and the lows to be lower than your average Tuesday.

• Moon Phase: New Moon (Maximum pull)
• Morning High: 10.47 AM (10.0 ft)
• Evening High: 11:24 PM (8.9 ft)
• Low Point: 5:09 PM (0.0 ft)

It’s worth noting that a 10-foot tide in Boston is getting uncomfortably close to the "action stage." Usually, we don't see major street flooding until we hit the 12-foot mark—think back to those nasty nor'easters—but a 10-footer with even a slight breeze can splash over the edges of the Harborwalk.

The Seaport and the "Sunny Day Flooding" Problem

If you've spent any time near the ICA or the Fan Pier lately, you know the drill. Even without a drop of rain, the drains sometimes start backing up.

Experts like those at the Stone Living Lab and researchers from UMass Boston have been shouting about this for years. It's not just "weather" anymore; it's the baseline rising. Since the 1920s, the sea level in Boston Harbor has climbed about a foot. That means a tide that was perfectly safe for your grandfather's boat is now a genuine threat to a basement apartment in the North End.

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Today's 10-foot peak is a prime example. While it’s not a "King Tide" (those usually happen when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, or perigee), the New Moon still gives it enough punch to make the harbor look very full. If you see water bubbling up through a storm drain on a clear day, that’s just the ocean reminding us it’s there.

Where to Watch (and Where to Park)

Honestly, if you want to see the harbor in its full glory today, head over to Castle Island in South Boston. The way the water pushes against the causeway during these spring tides is pretty incredible. Just keep an eye on the clock. By the time 5:00 PM rolls around, the beach will look twice as big as the tide drops to its absolute minimum of 0.0 feet.

For the boaters and the fisherman out there, that's a massive swing. Ten vertical feet of water moving in and out of the harbor creates some serious currents, especially near the narrow openings like the Hull Gut or under the Long Island Bridge.

Quick Safety Checklist for Today:

1. Check the Seaport: If you're parked in a surface lot near the water, just double-check the curb height.
2. Watch the Harborwalk: Some sections near the Aquarium tend to get slick or experience "overtopping" when we hit 10 feet.
3. Timing is Everything: The water will be highest right around 11:00 PM tonight. If you're out for a late-night stroll, the wind can make that 8.9-foot tide feel much splashier than the numbers suggest.

Looking Ahead to Tomorrow

The cycle keeps shifting. Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, the high tides will be at 11:26 AM and 11:59 PM. You’ll notice they keep getting about 40 to 50 minutes later each day. That’s because the moon takes a little longer than 24 hours to get back to the same spot over the harbor.

Tides are predictable, but the weather isn't. If a surprise wind starts blowing from the Northeast today, you can add an extra foot or two to those predictions easily. For now, enjoy the views, stay dry, and maybe don't park your car right on the edge of the pier.

Actionable Next Steps:
Check the local wind forecast before heading to the waterfront tonight. If gusts exceed 20 mph from the East/Northeast, expect minor "splash-over" flooding on the Harborwalk during the 11:24 PM high tide. For real-time water levels, monitor the NOAA Station 8443970 at Boston Harbor to see if the actual water level is outperforming the predicted 8.9 feet.