Tuesday’s full moon is October’s “Harvest Moon” and is the first supermoon of the year. According to NASA, a “supermoon” occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee.
Because the moon will be at its closest point to Earth, expect higher than normal tides this week.
King Tides are known as the highest predicted high tide of the year. Water levels during this time are higher than on any average day.
These higher than normal tides occur during the Spring and Fall is caused by the alignment of the Earth, Sun and Moon. As the moon orbits and exerts a gravitational pull on the Earth, this causes tides to rise and fall. But around the spring and fall equinox, that gravitational pull is at its strongest because it lines up with the gravitational pull the sun also provides. Since the Moon, Sun and Earth are in line, we see a gravitational pull in the same direction from the Sun and Moon. This intensifies the pull in the same direction, creating a rising tide cycle on Earth.
King tide days are also known as sunny day flooding because flooding can occur during the tide cycles, while the sun is out and shining with no rain to be found. This is most common in low lying areas and roads near the coast. Rainfall on top of king tides can cause additional flooding concerns as storm drains become overwhelmed…