King Tide Shows Himself Each Fall

King Tide Shows Himself Each Fall

September 9, 2025

When the weather cools and the days are shorter, fall comes calling for the King, and like clockwork, King Tide shows himself each fall. Fernandina Beach, located on Florida’s northeastern coast, experiences a natural phenomenon called King Tides several times a year, typically in spring and fall. These tides are the highest predicted tides of the year, occurring when the gravitational forces of the sun, moon, and Earth align perfectly. While king tides are a natural occurrence, their impacts are significant for coastal communities like Fernandina Beach, especially in the context of rising sea levels.

What Are King Tides?
King tides are extreme high tide, higher than normal. This is due to the gravitational pull from the moon and sun on Earth’s oceans. This unique alignment leads to tides that can be about a foot or more higher than average high tides. They usually occur during:

    New or full moons, when the Earth, moon, and sun are aligned (known as spring tides)
    When the moon is at perigee (its closest point to Earth)
    And when Earth is near perihelion (its closest point to the sun)

King Tide Impacts in Fernandina Beach

Coastal Flooding and Infrastructure Stress
Fernandina Beach’s low-lying coastal terrain makes it vulnerable to tidal flooding during king tide events, with tides regularly reaching heights above seven feet. Flooding can temporarily inundate roads, overwhelm drainage systems, and impact homes and local businesses, especially in neighborhoods close to sea level.

Environmental Concerns
Repeated flooding from king tides accelerates coastal erosion, threatening beaches and fragile ecosystems that are vital to the region’s biodiversity. Saltwater intrusion from flooding also risks contaminating freshwater aquifers, which are important for drinking water and agriculture.

Sea Level Rise
Scientific projections indicate that Southeast Florida, including Fernandina Beach, could experience a sea-level rise of 10 to 17 inches by 2040 under likely scenarios. This rise will cause king tides to intrude further into dry lands, exacerbating flooding and erosion problems.

Preparing for King Tides
Community Education: Local efforts aim to increase awareness about king tides and their consequences. Residents are encouraged to monitor tide charts and local forecasts.
Resilience Planning: Municipalities are investing in infrastructure improvements such as enhanced stormwater systems, flood barriers, and a downtown seawall.
Citizen Science: Programs involving residents in observing and documenting king tide events help scientists track and understand flooding patterns over time.
Fernandina Beach residents can access up-to-date tide schedules and forecasts through online tide charts to prepare for upcoming king tide events, minimizing their risks.

Upcoming King Tide Events
Recent tide data for Fernandina Beach show high tides regularly exceeding seven7 feet during king tide periods, with specific dates varying seasonally. For example, tides above eight feet were observed in early September 2025, highlighting the persistent nature of these high tides.

king tide in ne florida

Fernandina Beach King Tide Calendar – September 2025

Date RangeMoon PhaseNotes
Oct 3–9, 2025Full MoonStrong tides; watch for flooding on backstreets near waterfront
Oct 17–23, 2025New MoonModerate king tide; may combine with seasonal winds
Nov 1–10, 2025Full MoonHighest November tides; seasonal winds can amplify flooding
Nov 18–20, 2025New MoonShorter window; still above‑average highs
Dec 2–7, 2025Full MoonWinter king tide; cooler weather but still high water
Jan 2–6, 2026Full Moon + PerihelionOne of the year’s strongest tides; expect significant water rise
Jan 17–19, 2026New MoonElevated tides; less extreme than early January
Feb 1–5, 2026Full MoonWinter peak; possible marsh flooding
Feb 15–17, 2026New MoonModerate king tide
Mar 3–8, 2026Full MoonSpring tides; may coincide with seasonal storms
Mar 18–20, 2026New MoonShorter window; moderate highs
Apr 1–6, 2026Full MoonSpring king tide; watch for marsh overflows
Apr 16–18, 2026New MoonModerate highs
May 1–5, 2026Full MoonLate spring peak
May 15–17, 2026New MoonModerate highs
Aug 28 – Sept 3, 2026Full MoonStart of fall king tide season
Sept 11–17, 2026New MoonSecond September peak; often strong
Sept 25 – Oct 1, 2026Full MoonHigh fall tides; flooding possible
Oct 10–16, 2026New MoonModerate highs
Oct 24–30, 2026Full MoonLate October peak; may combine with storms
Nov 8–14, 2026New MoonModerate highs
Nov 22–28, 2026Full MoonLate fall peak
Dec 7–13, 2026New MoonEarly winter highs
Dec 21–27, 2026Full MoonYear’s final king tide window

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