New Orleans Tide Chart

New Orleans tide times this week

Reading the tide at New Orleans

These times come from the NOAA CO-OPS station at New Canal, Lake Pontchartrain, measured against mean lower low water (MLLW) — the datum every US chart uses, so a 1.5 ft prediction means a foot and a half above the average lowest tide, not above the bottom. Wind and pressure shift the real water level either side of the prediction: a hard onshore blow stacks water up and a strong offshore wind can pull a low tide well below what the table says.

Local tip: The lake and the bayous rise and fall on a small, often once-daily tide, which means wind is what really changes conditions — a sustained southerly stacks water against the lakefront and chops it up quickly. From June into September, plan for the early morning and let the afternoon go to the storms.

For fishing, the times in the table matter less than what happens between them. Water moving is what turns the bite on, and the strongest flow is roughly midway between a high and a low — so the two hours either side of that midpoint usually beat slack water at either end, particularly around lakefront cycling and kayaking.

New Orleans tide questions

What time is high tide at New Orleans today?

High tide at New Orleans is at 12:58 PM (0.7 ft), predicted by NOAA at New Canal, Lake Pontchartrain. Wind can shift the actual water level either side of the prediction.

What time is low tide at New Orleans today?

Low tide at New Orleans is at 1:00 AM (0.3 ft). A strong offshore wind can pull the water lower than predicted, which matters on shallow flats and at boat ramps.

How big is the tide at New Orleans?

Today's range at New Orleans is about 0.4 ft. Florida's Gulf coast runs a moderate range that varies a lot by latitude — roughly two feet through the Sarasota and Charlotte Harbor beaches, building to four or five up the Nature Coast and into the Big Bend. Either way the range grows around the new and full moon — those spring tides move noticeably more water.

Which tide is best for fishing New Orleans?

Moving water beats slack water almost everywhere. The strongest current runs roughly midway between a high and a low, so plan the two hours either side of that rather than the exact turn. First and last light overlapping a moving tide is the classic window.