SAVANNAH, Ga. () – Tonight, we welcome our first supermoon of the year, the Full Harvest Moon, reaching peak illumination at 11:47 PM. Because it’s a supermoon, it’s slightly closer to Earth than a typical full moon, which means it will appear larger and brighter in the night sky.

The name Harvest Moon, also known as the Hunter’s Moon, comes from its timing near the autumnal equinox, which occurred just a few weeks ago.

Elevated Tides with the Supermoon

Over the past few days, we’ve seen elevated coastal tides, partly due to a persistent northeasterly breeze. Now, with the supermoon in play, those tides will continue to run higher than normal.

This is due to a gravitational phenomenon. While Earth has its own gravity, the moon’s gravity also exerts a pull known as a tidal force, especially when it’s closer during a supermoon. This pull affects our oceans and is the primary driver of Earth’s tides.

King Tides & Moon Phases

During a full moon or new moon, when the Earth, moon, and sun are in near-perfect alignment, we experience king tides which are usually the highest tides of the year. Tonight’s supermoon enhances this effect even further.

In contrast, about a week from now, during the first and third quarter moons, we’ll see neap tides which is when the sun and moon are at a 90-degree angle. This alignment creates the lowest tidal range, with less difference between high and low tides.

What to Expect This Week

Thanks to the ongoing onshore breeze and the gravitational pull of the supermoon, elevated tides are expected to continue for the next few days. Conditions may not ease until later in the week. As a result, there is potential for minor to moderate coastal flooding during upcoming high tide cycles.