King Tide Expected This Week

Expect to see higher than normal tides this week as the sun and moon align to produce the King Tide from Sarasota Bay north to Tampa Bay and throughout the state.

King tides occur when the moon and sun align on one side of the Earth creating greater gravitational forces than normal, according to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. When that happens, the gravitational forces create extraordinarily high tides. While the king tides are natural occurrences, they provide a glimpse of the future landscape as sea levels rise.

To document the effects of the high tides the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program are encouraging nature lovers and photographers alike to take photos of the high and low tides. The king tide photo initiative is part of a nationwide project. Estuary programs across Florida are participating in the project.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is looking for participants to photograph the coastline, flooded roads, full pipes and ponds and anything affected by the rising waters. 

The best days and times to capture the king tides, according to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program are: 

• October 25th after 1:00 p.m. with a high tide of 2.08 feet
• October 26th after 2:00 pm with a high tide of 2.01 feet
• October 27th after 3:00 pm with a high tide of 1.89 feet

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program suggests the following days and times:

Near Port Manatee Area

• October 23rd 11:14 pm
• October 24th 12:10 pm
• October 25th 1:12 pm

Near St. Pete. Pier area

• October 23rd at 12:02pm
• October 24th at 1:10 pm
• October 25th at 2:12 pm

The estuary programs are asking photographers to record the exact times and locations of their photos and, if possible, to photograph the same areas at low tide for comparison.

Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, and Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Programs will compile the photos at Florida Tide Watch Flickr.

Bradenton photographers can email pictures to info@sarasotabay.org and the estuary program will upload them to its Facebook page and to Florida Tide Watch Flickr.