Wednesday, February 12, 2025

King Tides expected in coastal communities this holiday

Canal Street in Carolina Beach. (Port City Daily/File)

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Tides are expected to rise July 2 through the 5, which could lead to flooding in low-lying areas.

King tides, a non-scientific term, represent the highest and lowest tides throughout the year and happen when the moon is closest to the earth — during the new and full moon.

According to the 2023 NOAA schedule for king tides, the full moon is Monday, July 3, with King Tides in effect through Wednesday. Low-lying areas could be affected by potential flooding and boaters should be aware per navigating during low tide.

Carolina Beach officials forewarn travelers to the island of areas normally affected by rising water: Canal Drive, Florida Avenue, and Carolina Beach Avenue North. Roads may be closed off and there is a $250 fine for driving around barricades or through floods.

READ MORE: CB’s Canal Drive flooded 12% in last year, preliminary data shows

Downtown Wilmington may also be affected, particularly along Water Street and near the USS North Carolina, which easily flood. Topsail Island also could be impacted.

Walking through the water is not advised, due to unwanted debris, nor is driving in flooded streets (salt water can hurt the vehicle).

As sea level rise continues, king tides become of more concern. A UNC professor, ecologist Christine Voss, started the N.C. King Tides Project to keep records of the shoreline, in order to track changes and understand how it affects coastal communities.

The project welcomes the public to turn in pictures they may capture of King Tide events here.


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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