What are King Tides?

Between January 29th, 2018 and February 2nd, 2018, the NC coast will be susceptible to the highest of high tides.  To that end, we’ll be subject to the lowest of low tides as well.  This phenomenon is called King Tides.  King Tides occur when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.  This must also co occur with a full or new moon.  It’s not a rare event by any means as they occur multiple times of year.

Why are King Tides Important?

King Tides are important because they show what water levels may look like in the future, based on the rise in sea level predictions.

Can King Tides be Problematic?

King Tides can certainly become problematic when they occur at the same time as storm conditions.  Imagine the highest of tides under normal weather conditions, and then add in the storm surge that is created when another weather event happens.  You will absolutely see localized flooding, if not more widespread flooding, in our coastal regions.

What’s Going on This Week?

Special this week is the fact that on January 31st, there will also be a blue moon and a supermoon.  For 77 minutes, the full moon will pass through the Earth’s shadow, casting an orange hue over the moon.  It will also be a blue moon because it’s the second full moon in the calendar month. The first occurred on Jan. 2.  This type of event hasn’t happened in over 100 years.  This is called a Blue Blood Moon!