Unusually High Summer Tides Explained

Beachgoers along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. have noticed tides much higher than usual this summer.

The U.S. agency NOAA says it has uncovered the reason why tides have been anywhere from several inches to two feet higher than normal this summer from Maine to Florida.

Researchers say that a rare combination of persistent northeasterly winds and a weakened ocean current were responsible.

The winds were the main cause of higher tides from New England to Delaware, while a weakening of the Florida Current Transport, a current that feeds into the Gulf Stream, caused higher tides to the south.

The two factors merged along the mid-Atlantic coast to cause the highest tides of all around cities like Baltimore.

Extreme high tides as much as two feet above normal occurred there during June and July.

Mike Szabados, director of NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, said that while variations in ocean conditions are not uncommon, this summer’s event was unique because of “its breadth, intensity and duration.”

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