Spring Tides This Weekend

The term spring tides has nothing to do with the season.

(Nov 4, 2021) … Saturday we will see some minor tidal flooding in low areas from spring tides, in the fall. Also known or referred to as king tides. The term spring tide is a common historical term that derives from the idea the tide is “springing forth”. Which it does twice each lunar month during full and new moons. Water floods higher onto land, or springs forward. High tides are a little higher and low tides are a little lower than average. Causing minor coastal flooding at times.

The “opposite” of the spring tide is the neap tide that occurs seven days after a spring tide, or when the moon appears half full. The low tides are higher than usual and the high tides are lower than usual. This occurs when the earth is aligned in a right angle to the sun.

Both of these tides are due to the bulging and dipping of the oceans created by the sun and moon’s gravitational pull. When they are nearly in alignment, the tides are average or moderate. When there is a new or full moon, the sun’s gravitational pull is added to the moon’s. Creating a “bulge” or higher water in the oceans. Causing high tide to spring forth.

There are other higher tides too
Perigean spring tide .. NOAA … “Often between 6-8 times a year, the new or full moon coincides closely in time with the perigee of the moon — the point when the moon is closest to the Earth. These occurrences are often called ‘perigean spring tides.’ High tides during perigean spring tides can be significantly higher than during other times of the year.”