After the intense rainfall and flooding Louisiana and Haiti experienced this year, Florida could receive its fair share later this fall as the state’s king tide season approaches. This natural phenomenon becomes more prevalent during the spring and fall, posing great threats to Florida’s lowland coastal areas and communities, especially Miami-Dade County.

The science behind king tides differs from that of hurricanes or cyclones, which depend on the warming of waters carried by strong winds towards landfall. 

Earth’s tides are controlled by Earth’s gravitational pull. As the moon travels in its elliptical orbit around Earth, the moon’s weak gravitational pull causes water levels to slightly elevate at different times during the day. 

Different points on the moon’s orbit also affect apparent changes in tidal levels. For reference, the “perigee” marks the point where the moon is closest to the Earth. In contrast to the perigee, an “apogee” is the point where the moon is farthest from the Earth. This results in tidal waves or tides, and depending on the positioning of the moon in relation to the Earth, tides can occur as low or high. “Spring tides” occur when tides become exceptionally high or low if the moon enters either its new or full phase, which occurs every 28 days. 

King tides, otherwise known as “perigean spring tides,” combine a full or new moon and a “perigee” of the moon. These natural occurrences happen around six to eight times a year, according to the National Ocean Service, and result in exceptionally high tide levels. 

As king tides naturally occur during the year, they often coincide with heavy rainfall and strong winds. Due to this, king tides are often known as “nuisance flooding” and “high tide flooding,” particularly with regards to coastal areas vulnerable to flooding.  

Rising sea levels have also  contributed to the geographical reach of perigean spring tides; king tides are able to progress further inland and remain longer in certain areas due to heightened water elevation. While king tides tend to result in  less danger than hurricanes or other natural disasters, they exacerbate problems such as erosion, flooding, blockage of access to roads via flooding and other complications.     

To prepare Floridians for the upcoming king tide season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its own tide prediction dates. 

If king tides create hazardous conditions in your area, visit https://www.miamidade.gov/ for important safety precautions.