Gulf of Alaska tides widen as the fall cool-down sets in

What's next

The waxing gibbous moon is building toward full over the next several days, which typically widens tidal range and strengthens current through both the morning ebb and the flood that follows. That points to early-morning outings through the weekend as the window worth planning around, when the stronger push moves more water through current seams and structure.

Expect the low-water mark at both stations to shift later through the week as the tide cycle advances. Plan around the steepest part of the ebb, roughly the two hours on either side of low, rather than the slack at the top or bottom of the swing.

Context

Late September in the Gulf of Alaska sits in the seasonal transition from summer's thermal peak into the steadier, cooler regime that holds through fall and winter, and water in the high-40s is typical for the region at this point in the calendar. Tidal ranges and current strength generally build through October and November as fall storm systems begin tracking through more frequently, a pattern this week's numbers are consistent with rather than ahead of or behind schedule.