Get ready for a tidal rollercoaster 乌鸦传媒� Greater Victoria is about to see its lowest tide of the year, followed by some of its highest, all in a matter of hours.
The tides around the region are set to swing dramatically at the end of May, driven by a rare and powerful alignment of lunar and solar forces.
According to the Canadian Hydrographic Service, water levels are expected to dip to 乌鸦传媒�0.22 metres at 10:46 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28 乌鸦传媒� the lowest of 2025. A day earlier, on Tuesday, May 27, tides will fall to 乌鸦传媒�0.19 metres at 10 a.m.
In sharp contrast, high tides will peak at 2.99 metres earlier Wednesday at (May 28) 2:01 a.m. and 2.93 metres in the early hours of Thursday (May 29).
乌鸦传媒淭hese extreme tides are the result of several astronomical factors combining at once,乌鸦传媒� said Denny Sinnott, supervisor of tides, currents and water levels with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檒l see a New Moon on May 26, which means the sun, moon, and Earth will be in near-perfect alignment.乌鸦传媒�
This alignment creates what乌鸦传媒檚 known as a spring tide 乌鸦传媒� a term that refers to the tide 乌鸦传媒渟pringing forth,乌鸦传媒� not the season. These tides occur twice a month and bring slightly higher highs and lower lows than usual. But in this case, the spring tide乌鸦传媒檚 effects are intensified.
乌鸦传媒淭he moon will also be in perigee 乌鸦传媒� the closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth 乌鸦传媒� on May 25,乌鸦传媒� Sinnott said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen the moon is closer, its gravitational pull on the ocean is stronger. Combining that with the New Moon alignment increases the pull even more.乌鸦传媒�
Adding to the mix, the moon will reach its farthest point north of the equator on May 28. This positioning further enhances the gravitational effect over Victoria乌鸦传媒檚 coastal waters. Sinnott noted that the combination of all three events 乌鸦传媒� perigee, New Moon, and the moon乌鸦传媒檚 northernmost point 乌鸦传媒� creates an unusually large tidal range.
乌鸦传媒淭here can be a day or so lag in the tide乌鸦传媒檚 response to these astronomical conditions, which is why the extremes appear around May 27 to 29,乌鸦传媒� he explained.
For shoreline visitors, this rare tidal event offers an excellent chance to explore tide pools and marine life typically hidden underwater. But Sinnott cautioned that these wide-ranging tides can also generate stronger-than-normal currents.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a great time to poke around the shoreline, but always be aware of your surroundings,乌鸦传媒� he said.
The Canadian Hydrographic Service publishes tide tables and real-time data to help mariners, beachgoers, and coastal residents plan ahead. With such significant shifts expected, checking is more important than ever.
