• Mark Alan Lovewell

Full Moon and Extreme Tides

Tides will run higher and lower than normal in the coming week as the moon gets both closer to the earth and enters the full moon phase. Full Moon is next Friday. On Sunday, June 15, the moon will be closest in its routine orbit around the earth and this is called perigee. These two astronomical events coincide only a couple of times a year.

Tides are created by the gravitational pull of both the sun and moon on the earth’s oceans. There are times when the proximity of these two celestial bodies to our earth exerts more of a pull than we normally are accustomed.

When the moon is either in the New Moon phase or Full Moon phase, both the sun and moon give a little more of a tug on our oceans. But what makes next week more interesting is an additional fact: the moon is closer than normal, due to the elliptical nature of its orbit, and so its gravitational pull is stronger.

Pay attention next week. The early morning and late afternoon tides will run lower. Sand bars that aren’t usually seen will come to the surface. Shallow waters will be even more shallower. Boat operators need to pay attention to those areas that aren’t so deep.

Near noontime and closer to midnight, tides will run higher than normal. As the tide pushes higher, the wrackline on most beaches will be pushed higher.


Sunrise and Sunset
Fri., June 65:078:12
Sat., June 75:078:13
Sun., June 85:078:14
Mon., June 95:078:14
Tues., June 105:068:15
Wed., June 115:068:15
Thurs., June 125:068:16
Fri., June 135:068:16

Temperatures and Precipitations
DayMax (Fº)Min (Fº)Inches
May 3063370.00
May 3163510.00
June 164490.00
June 272460.00
June 375530.00
June 472530.01
June 567550.05


Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 65º F


Vineyard Notebook
