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Seaham Beach

County Durham, North East
Good Water Quality
Data last verified: 12 Nov 2026

Seaham Beach in County Durham boasts a picturesque shoreline with a mix of rock and sand, set against a backdrop of scenic coastal scenery. The beach has been awarded a Good water quality rating by the Environment Agency, making it a great spot for swimming and water activities. During the summer months, the water temperature at Seaham Beach typically ranges from 16-18°C.

5.3°C
Air Temp
14.4 mph
Wind Speed
High Tide (4.77m)
in 3h 55m (04:49) • Spring Tide
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Live Water Quality

80
Good
Safe for swimming
• Updated 10 mins ago
Today's Conditions • Updated 10 mins ago

Lifeguards

Unknown
Help us verify

Air Temp

5.3°C
Comfortable

Weather

Partly cloudy
5.3°C

Tide

High Tide (4.77m)
in 3h 55m (04:49) • Spring Tide

Water Quality

Good
Safe for swimming

Pollution Alerts

None
No alerts today

Quick Overview

Sand & Rocky beach
Family friendly
Dog friendly
(winter)
Parking nearby
Toilets
Café

Beach Information View all details

Beach Type
Rock, Sand
Water Quality
Good
Avg. Air Temp
5.3°C
Swimming
Highly recommended

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Reference Information

🌊 Live Tide Curve, Tidal Range & 7-Day Schedule

Harmonic astronomical predictions, tidal coefficients & flow rate

Spring Tide • Coeff 86
Current Water Level
Rising ↑ (2.11m)
35% through current tide cycle (LAT)
Upcoming High & Low
▲ High: 04:49 (4.77m • in 3h 55m)
▼ Low: 10:59 (1.39m • in 10h 6m)
Tidal Range & Coefficient
Range: 3.62m (Coeff 86/120)
Large tidal range — faster tidal currents and higher high water.
Current Tidal Flow
Peak Flooding Flow
Rule of Twelfths: fastest flow occurs in mid-tide hours 3 & 4.
📈 24-Hour Harmonic Tide Curve (LAT)
Station: Seaham
5.5m 3.1m 0.6m 23:0003:0007:0011:0015:0019:00 High 04:49 (4.8m)Low 10:59 (1.4m)High 16:58 (4.8m) NOW
📅 7-Day High & Low Tide Table
Day High & Low Tides (Local Time) Tidal Range Coeff / Phase
Wed 11 Nov ▲ High 16:26 (4.95m)▼ Low 22:47 (1.12m) 3.83m Spring (91)
Today ▲ High 04:49 (4.77m)▼ Low 10:59 (1.39m)▲ High 16:58 (4.85m)▼ Low 23:21 (1.23m) 3.62m Spring (86)
Fri 13 Nov ▲ High 05:25 (4.57m)▼ Low 11:30 (1.57m)▲ High 17:32 (4.72m)▼ Low 23:57 (1.37m) 3.35m Coeff 79
Sat 14 Nov ▲ High 06:04 (4.36m)▼ Low 12:04 (1.76m)▲ High 18:10 (4.56m) 2.80m Coeff 65
Sun 15 Nov ▼ Low 00:37 (1.53m)▲ High 06:48 (4.15m)▼ Low 12:45 (1.95m)▲ High 18:54 (4.38m) 2.85m Coeff 66
Mon 16 Nov ▼ Low 01:26 (1.68m)▲ High 07:42 (3.97m)▼ Low 13:36 (2.13m)▲ High 19:48 (4.21m) 2.53m Coeff 58
Tue 17 Nov ▼ Low 02:26 (1.80m)▲ High 08:49 (3.87m)▼ Low 14:43 (2.25m)▲ High 20:54 (4.10m) 2.30m Coeff 52
Reference Station: Seaham • Model: FES2022 Global Ocean Model • Datum: LAT Tide predictions via TidesAtlas
Next 4 Tides
Spring Tide
High 04:49 4.77m
Low 10:59 1.39m
High 16:58 4.85m
Low 23:21 1.23m
Current: Rising (2.11m) • Peak Flooding Flow
Sediment Type
Rock, Sand

The shoreline consists primarily of rock, sand. Sediment type dictates underfoot comfort, wave energy absorption, and the water's clarity when currents stir up the seabed.

Annual Rating
Good

Water quality is clean and fully compliant with safety directives. It regularly meets bacterial limits under standard environmental conditions.

Rainfall Impact
High Risk

Bacterial levels are highly susceptible to storm runoff. Heavy rainfall in the local catchment is likely to trigger storm overflows and agricultural runoff, rendering the water temporarily unsafe.

Monitoring Authority
Environment Agency

Tested weekly by the Environment Agency England for bacteria levels (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) between May and September.

Water Body Type
Coastal Beach

Monitored as a coastal beach. Coastal beaches are subject to tidal flows and marine dilution, whereas inland lakes/rivers suffer from low water circulation, meaning bacteria can linger longer.

Sewerage Provider
Northumbrian Water Limited

Northumbrian Water Limited is the regional utility responsible for waste water treatment, sewage infrastructure, and storm overflow management in this catchment area.

Designated Year
1988

Officially designated as a protected bathing water site in 1988. This designation mandates regular public health monitoring.

County / District
County Durham

Governed under local district sanitation and environmental safety regulations in the County Durham area.

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