What is a King Tide?
JACKONSVILLE, Fla. – According to the National Ocean Service, a King Tide is a non-scientific term people often use to describe exceptionally high tides. Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is "pulled" back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun as these bodies interact with the Earth in their monthly and yearly orbits. During these times tides may become 3-4 feet higher than average, but this time around our tides are only expected to be 1-2 feet higher than normal.
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Upcoming High Tide Times
Jacksonville Beach
Sunday 7:15 a.m. – 6.35 ft.
Sunday 7:39 p.m. 5.43 ft.
St. Augustine
Sunday 7:15 a.m. – 6.47 ft.
Sunday 7:41 p.m. – 5.28ft
The Relationship Between Tides and the Moon
These unusual tides typically occur during a new or full moon and when the Earth is at its perigee, or during specific seasons around the country, in the case of this weekend, specifically Sunday experience a full moon in the form of a Supermoon. These rare occurrences happen when full moons appear larger than usual because they arrive when the full moon is at a point closest to earth in its oval-shaped orbit.
This Weekend’s Local Impact
Because of the generally calm weather through Saturday into Sunday morning localized flooding due to these abnormal tides isn’t expected. Furthermore, we haven’t experienced a significant amount of rain since Thanksgiving. The combination of this dry and rather calm stretch of weather will limit the impacts of this weekend’s tides.
The passage of a low-pressure center through the Carolinas deliver northerly winds Sunday evening, but sustained winds speed won’t be impressive (N 10-15 mph, gusts near 20 mph). Monday northeasterly breezes will push in from the Atlantic, but the impacts will be marginal at best due to the relative weakness of the winds. In conclusion, localized flooding and intensified beach erosion are not likely to occur this weekend despite the atmospheric anomalies happening in the sky above.
Watching the Supermoon This Sunday
Moonset: 6:50 a.m.
Sunset: 5:25 p.m.
Moonrise: 5:52 p.m.