Tide Clock Screensaver
The Tide Clock screensaver tracks the sea rising and falling at a coastal station, drawing a smooth tide curve with the next high and low water times, from the key-less NOAA Tides & Currents API. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.
How the Tide Clock screensaver works
The saver fetches NOAA tide predictions for the station you choose — both the high/low times and an hourly curve over the next couple of days, with no key.
It draws a smooth, water-filled tide curve with a marker at the current moment, interpolated between predictions.
The next high and the next low are called out with their times and heights.
The data refreshes periodically so the “now” marker and upcoming tides stay accurate.
A worked example
For a station like Boston, MA you watch the curve swell toward a High 11.2 ft at its predicted time, the now-marker creeping along it, then ebb to the next low — a calm, tidal heartbeat for the screen.
Settings & tips
- Station chooses which coastal tide station to track.
- Accent recolours the water and markers.
- Background sets the panel backdrop.
Frequently asked questions
- Are the tides real?
- Yes. They're official NOAA tide predictions for the chosen station, the same data used for tide tables.
- Are these predictions or measurements?
- They're NOAA's harmonic tide predictions — the forecast curve — which is what tide clocks and tables use.
- Does it need a key?
- No. NOAA's Tides & Currents API is free and key-less; the saver only needs an internet connection.
- Which stations can I pick?
- A built-in set of U.S. coastal stations including Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free, no download, in your browser.