San Francisco’s tide reaches 1.62 feet above its high-water baseline
NOAA’s preliminary San Francisco gauge readings reached 1.62 feet above the mean higher-high-water datum on October 10; shoreline flood advisories continue into the new week.
At noon on October 10, NOAA’s San Francisco gauge recorded a preliminary peak of 1.618 feet above mean higher high water—the long-term reference for the higher of a day’s high tides.
Rounded to 1.62 feet, it matches the Chronicle’s reported October record, compared with 1.4 feet last year. The historical record comparison remains the newspaper’s finding; the current gauge series is preliminary. [1][2][4]
Sunday’s warning is practical: the National Weather Service forecasts San Francisco’s next high tide at 12:18 p.m. PDT on October 11, with localized inundation up to 1.5 feet above ground in vulnerable shoreline areas. The gauge’s tidal datum and ground-level flood depth are different measurements. A shoreline’s elevation and exposure determine its experience. [3]
The coastal flood advisory for San Francisco lasts until 3 p.m. PDT Tuesday, October 13. High tide is forecast at 12:46 p.m. Monday and 1:14 p.m. Tuesday; nearby coastal and bay locations can differ by as much as 90 minutes. Check the live advisory before a waterfront trip, allow for closures and stay out of flooded roads and off exposed rocks or piers. All times here are Pacific Daylight Time, UTC−07:00. [3]
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Live shoreline advisory Check the bulletin for your location and current closures; quoted times are PDT (UTC−07:00).
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- NOAA CO-OPS · October 10 measurements
Station 9414290; 240 six-minute readings, local daylight time, feet relative to MHHW. Maximum 1.618 at 12:00 PDT; all readings preliminary, not final verified data.
- San Francisco Chronicle · October 10
Independent local reporting of the 1.62-foot peak, historical October comparison and observed shoreline disruption. Its historical record calculation was not independently recomputed.
- NWS Bay Area · October 11, 7:19 a.m. PDT
Fresh advisory: up to 1.5 feet localized inundation, high-tide times and San Francisco expiry. The dynamic page may update.
- NOAA · Data definitions
Defines preliminary versus verified quality, measured values and flags. MHHW means mean higher-high water.
Images & figures
October 10 at San Francisco’s gauge. Zero is mean higher high water, not ground level; readings are preliminary.
Euangelion · NOAA CO-OPS data · Source · Usage terms