What is a King Tide?

A King Tide is a non-scientific term often used to describe exceptionally high tides. By some definitions, King Tides occur at every full moon and new moon in the lunar cycle throughout the year, but are usually associated with the highest astronomical tides that occur 6-8 times a year when the full and new moons coincide with the Moon's perigee (when then Moon's orbit is closest to Earth). NWS Melbourne typically refers to these as tides as high astronomical tides or above normal astronomical tides in our forecasts and discussions.

On the Central Florida Atlantic coast, the highest astronomical tides typically occur from September through December, but can occur as early as August or as late as January.

Impacts of King Tides

The high astronomical tides by themselves usually only cause minor coastal flooding impacts, if any. However, any additional tropical or extra-tropical storm surge or heavy rainfall on top of these tides may lead to greater coastal flooding impacts, such as high tide flooding of roads, yards, or docks, moderate to major beach erosion, and damage to beach access structures. In moderate to major events, flood waters could enter homes and businesses.

Jaycee Park Boat Ramp in Fort Pierce on November 8, 2021.

Upcoming High Astronomical Tides

October 9th - October 13th
Date		Port Canaveral		Ponce Inlet		Fort Pierce Inlet
Fri	10/9/26	7:24 AM	0.66 ft	7:58 AM	0.66 ft	8:09 AM	0.16 ft
Sat	10/10/26	8:09 AM	0.79 ft	8:44 AM	0.75 ft	8:53 AM	0.20 ft
Sun	10/11/26	8:51 AM	0.83 ft	9:27 AM	0.78 ft	9:34 AM	0.19 ft
Mon	10/12/26	9:31 AM	0.79 ft	10:08 AM	0.75 ft	10:14 AM	0.14 ft
Tue	10/13/26	10:09 AM	0.68 ft	10:48 AM	0.66 ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft

October 24th - November 1st
Date		Port Canaveral		Ponce Inlet		Fort Pierce Inlet
Sat	10/24/26	6:41 AM	0.60 ft	7:25 AM	0.54 ft
Sun	10/25/26	7:28 AM	1.00 ft	8:11 AM	0.77 ft	8:10 AM	0.21 ft
Mon	10/26/26	8:16 AM	1.13 ft	8:57 AM	0.95 ft	8:52 AM	0.33 ft
Tue	10/27/26	9:04 AM	1.26 ft	9:45 AM	1.06 ft	9:36 AM	0.40 ft
Wed	10/28/26	9:53 AM	1.28 ft	10:35 AM	1.10 ft	10:26 AM	0.40 ft
Thu	10/29/26	10:45 AM	1.19 ft	11:28 AM	1.05 ft	11:20 AM	0.36 ft
Fri	10/30/26	11:42 AM	1.02 ft	12:25 PM	0.94 ft	12:18 PM	0.28 ft
Sat	10/31/26	12:42 PM	0.82 ft	1:25 PM	0.79 ft	1:19 PM	0.18 ft
Sun	11/1/26	12:44 PM	0.60 ft	1:28 PM	0.64 ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft

November 6th - November 11th
Date		Port Canaveral		Ponce Inlet		Fort Pierce Inlet
Fri	11/6/26	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	5:51 AM	0.57 ft	6:05 AM	0.15 ft
Sat	11/7/26	6:06 AM	0.68 ft	6:37 AM	0.66 ft	6:53 AM	0.21 ft
Sun	11/8/26	6:48 AM	0.73 ft	7:21 AM	0.70 ft	7:36 AM	0.21 ft
Mon	11/9/26	7:27 AM	0.73 ft	8:03 AM	0.69 ft	8:15 AM	0.18 ft
Tue	11/10/26	8:05 AM	0.68 ft	8:43 AM	0.63 ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft
Wed	11/11/26	8:42 AM	0.58 ft	9:22 AM	0.54 ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft

November 22nd - November 29th
Date		Port Canaveral		Ponce Inlet		Fort Pierce Inlet
Sun	11/22/26	5:13 AM	0.63 ft	5:55 AM	0.53 ft	6:02 AM	0.20 ft
Mon	11/23/26	6:02 AM	0.92 ft	6:45 AM	0.75 ft	6:49 AM	0.34 ft
Tue	11/24/26	6:54 AM	1.12 ft	7:36 AM	0.92 ft	7:35 AM	0.45 ft
Wed	11/25/26	7:46 AM	1.22 ft	8:29 AM	1.01 ft	8:24 AM	0.49 ft
Thu	11/26/26	8:38 AM	1.20 ft	9:21 AM	1.01 ft	9:15 AM	0.47 ft
Fri	11/27/26	9:31 AM	1.06 ft	10:15 AM	0.92 ft	10:09 AM	0.42 ft
Sat	11/28/26	10:27 AM	0.82 ft	11:10 AM	0.75 ft	11:05 AM	0.32 ft
Sun	11/29/26	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	12:06 PM	0.53 ft	12:01 PM	0.20 ft

December 21st - December 28th
Date		Port Canaveral		Ponce Inlet		Fort Pierce Inlet
Mon	12/21/26	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	5:38 AM	0.25 ft
Tue	12/22/26	5:41 AM	0.61 ft	6:25 AM	0.44 ft	6:32 AM	0.37 ft
Wed	12/23/26	6:37 AM	0.79 ft	7:20 AM	0.60 ft	7:23 AM	0.46 ft
Thu	12/24/26	7:31 AM	0.88 ft	8:15 AM	0.69 ft	8:13 AM	0.50 ft
Fri	12/25/26	8:24 AM	0.85 ft	9:07 AM	0.58 ft	9:03 AM	0.48 ft
Sat	12/26/26	9:16 AM	0.68 ft	9:58 AM	0.56 ft	9:55 AM	0.41 ft
Sun	12/27/26	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	10:47 AM	0.30 ft
Mon	12/28/26	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	––:–– – –	–.–– ft	11:38 AM	0.16 ft

All levels in Mean Higher High Water (MHHW). This level is the best approximation for when inundation (water over normally dry ground) may begin. More about datums.
These levels do not include any additional tropical or extra-tropical storm surge.
Dates are mostly based on historical thresholds at Trident Pier in Port Canaveral that indicate increased potential for coastal flooding along the East Central Florida Atlantic coast and Intracoastal Waterways. Thresholds are still being worked out for Ponce Inlet, Fort Pierce Inlet, and other points along our coast.
High tide heights and their times that don't reach historical thresholds aren't listed. However, coastal flooding can still occur one these day, or any day, with enough tropical or extra-tropical surge.