King tides is a colloquial time period that has turn out to be very acquainted to us within the Florida Keys, particularly later within the autumn, when the twice-daily excessive tides are the very best of the calendar yr.
These excessive tides could cause “sunny day flooding” the place roads and parking tons could flood from saltwater intrusion beneath, not from rainfall. If it does rain throughout king tide occasions, we will get much more flooding. The height king tide this yr was through the tremendous full moon on Oct. 17, which was additionally the closest the moon got here to Earth in 2024. The ultimate king tides of the yr can be related to the complete moon on Friday, Nov. 15 and happen from Nov. 13-20.
The rise in sea degree signifies that coastal flooding has turn out to be extra frequent. From 1913 to 2023, Key West tidal gauge information exhibits that the relative sea degree has risen by 10.32 inches. The Earth’s tides are attributable to the gravitational pull of the moon and the solar. The brand new moon happens when the moon is between the Earth and the solar, and the gravitational pull from each amplifies tidal heights as a result of each celestial our bodies pull the water towards them.
The identical is true throughout full moons, when the Earth is between the moon and the solar. These are referred to as spring tides. The tide is much less excessive exterior of recent and full moons as a result of the solar and moon compete gravitationally, that are referred to as neap tides. The tide is one large wave that circumnavigates the globe westward with a crest and a trough of rising and falling water. A photo voltaic day is 24 hours; that is the time it takes for the Earth to rotate on its axis. A lunar day is how lengthy it takes the moon to rotate across the Earth, which is 50 minutes longer than a photo voltaic day. This is the reason excessive and low tides are usually not on the identical time every single day — should you have a look at a tide chart, you will notice the rising or falling of the tides is round 50 minutes later every successive day.
King tides convey the very best excessive tides of the yr and the bottom low tides. Boaters have to be vigilant and verify tide tables; they could want extra clearance below bridges or traversing seagrass and sandbars which may be very shallow. Within the Florida Keys, we’ve twice-daily excessive and low tides that common nearly 1.5 toes, and king tides are often 0.4 toes greater. Nevertheless, tide tables present predicted tides, and the noticed excessive tides may very well be 2.5 toes or greater, particularly when sustained winds push extra water ashore.
Understanding when king tides are occurring is crucial as a result of this saltwater may be very damaging to bikes and autos. There are various free smartphone apps for tide occasions to keep away from flood areas and regulate your driving schedule accordingly. When you drive by means of tidal floods, wash the undercarriage of your automobile to take away any saltwater accumulation. When you drive by means of flooded areas, please word that creating waves could cause further harm to surrounding landscaping and property. Keep away from parking your automobile in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding to forestall saltwater harm to your automobile.
For extra data attain out to the Monroe County Extension Workplace.