Wesley Shaw

Summary of October-November 2015 South Carolina King Tides

Highest Predicted Tide: 7.2′
Highest Observed Tide: 8.7′
Predicted King Tides: 6
Observed King Tides: 14


In Charleston Harbor, the highest water levels of the year (and since Hurricane Hugo in 1989) were observed on Tuesday, October 27th. Water levels peaked at 8.7’ mean lower low water (MLLW) at 8:36 a.m., a foot and a half above astronomical predictions, prompting extensive road closures throughout the coast. The Charleston Harbor Tide Station recorded water levels at, or above, 7’ MLLW for nearly 4 hours. This series consisted of 14 observed King Tides over 9 days – significantly exceeding the 6 events over 6 days that were predicted. The morning tide observed on October 27th was the fourth highest tide on record in the Harbor since monitoring began at this location in 1899.

DATE AM/PM KING TIDE PREDICTED? KING TIDE OBSERVED? PREDICTED 
WATER LEVEL OBSERVED WATER LEVEL DIFFERENCE
October 24 AM No Yes 6.2 6.7 0.5
October 24 PM No Yes 6.4 7.2 0.8
October 25 AM Yes Yes 6.6 7.4 0.8
October 25 PM No Yes 6.5 7.2 0.7
October 26 AM Yes Yes 7 7.7 0.7
October 26 PM No Yes 6.5 7.7 1.2
October 27 AM Yes Yes 7.2 8.7 1.5
October 27 PM No Yes 6.5 7.8 1.3
October 28 AM Yes Yes 7.2 8.3 1.1
October 28 PM No Yes 6.3 6.9 0.6
October 29 AM Yes Yes 7.1 7.5 0.4
October 30 AM Yes Yes 6.9 6.9 0.0
October 31 AM No Yes 6.5 7 0.5
November 1 AM No Yes 6.2 6.6 0.4
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