King Tides: What They Are and When the Next Ones Are
A king tide is the highest high tide of the year at a place. It is not a special kind of wave and it is not caused by weather: it is an ordinary astronomical tide, only larger, and it can be predicted years in advance.
What causes a king tide
Tides come from the pull of the moon and, a little less, of the sun. Three things make that pull stronger, and a king tide happens when they add up:
- A new or full moon. The sun and the moon are in line with the Earth, so their pulls add up. These are the spring tides, and they come twice a month.
- The moon at perigee. The moon's orbit is an ellipse. When it passes closest to the Earth, its pull is about 20% stronger than at its farthest. A full or new moon near perigee is often called a "supermoon".
- The Earth near the sun. The Earth is closest to the sun in early January, which adds a little more.
When a spring tide falls close to perigee, the high tide can be several tens of centimetres higher than an ordinary spring tide. That is why king tides cluster a few times a year, often in the northern winter and around the solstices and equinoxes.
Next king tides in popular places
The next of the five highest tides of the coming twelve months, for the most searched places on Marinalo. Heights are above the local chart datum; each place's page has the full list.
| Place | Next king tide | Highest tide of the year |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland Auckland | 27 Dec 2026 | 3.6 m |
| Folly Beach South Carolina | Oct 27, 2026 | 7.0 ft |
| Plymouth England | 22 Feb 2027 | 5.9 m |
| San Diego California | Nov 25, 2026 | 7.6 ft |
| Worthing England | 23 Feb 2027 | 6.3 m |
| Townsville Queensland | 25 Dec 2026 | 3.9 m |
| Swansea Wales | 22 Feb 2027 | 10.2 m |
| Sydney New South Wales | 26 Nov 2026 | 2.1 m |
| Myrtle Beach South Carolina | Oct 27, 2026 | 2.4 ft |
| Hastings England | 27 Oct 2026 | 8.3 m |
| Whitby England | 22 Feb 2027 | 6.1 m |
| Cairns Queensland | 24 Dec 2026 | 3.5 m |
Why king tides matter on the water
A king tide is a few tens of centimetres above a normal spring tide, and that is enough to flood low streets, parking lots and the top of boat ramps, to put docks and pontoons at the top of their piles, and to reduce the clearance under bridges. Six hours later the low tide is also unusually low, which leaves shallow ramps and channels dry. If an onshore wind or a low-pressure system comes at the same time, the water can be higher still: the tide table only gives the astronomical part.
Many cities ask the public to photograph king tides, because they show today what an ordinary high tide may look like with a higher sea level.
Questions
- What is a king tide?
- A king tide is the highest high tide of the year at a place. It happens when a new or full moon lines up with the moon at its closest point to the Earth (perigee), often near the solstices or equinoxes.
- When are the next king tides?
- They can be predicted years ahead from the motion of the moon and the sun. Each Marinalo tide page lists the five highest tides of the next twelve months for that place.
- Are king tides dangerous?
- They can flood low streets, boat ramps and parking lots, especially with an onshore wind or low air pressure. Check the local forecast, not only the tide table.
More tide guides
Spring and neap tides How the moon affects tides Tide times worldwide How we calculate tides
Sources: NOAA Tides & Currents education pages and standard oceanography textbooks; tide dates and heights on this page are calculated by Marinalo from the stations listed on our methodology page. Not for navigation.