King tides in North Carolina, 2026–27
King tides are the highest tides of the year. The next statewide king tides are Oct 10–11, when 24 of 65 spots have their highest tides of the year. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 65 spots in North Carolina, worked out for the next 12 months.
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North Carolina king tide dates
| Dates | Peak day | Spots at their highest that day |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 10–11 | Sun Oct 11 | 24 of 65 spots |
| Oct 26–30 | Wed Oct 28 | 55 of 65 spots |
| Nov 24–27 | Wed Nov 25 | 40 of 65 spots |
| Dec 24–25 | Thu Dec 24 | 26 of 65 spots |
| Jun 5–6 | Sat Jun 5 | 27 of 65 spots |
| Jul 3–5 | Sun Jul 4 | 37 of 65 spots |
| Aug 1–2 | Mon Aug 2 | 46 of 65 spots |
| Aug 29–Sep 3 | Mon Aug 30 | 30 of 65 spots |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | Sat Oct 2 | 60 of 65 spots |
Big states can have more than one season: one stretch of coast may peak in fall while another peaks in winter. The table for your spot below is the one to trust.
Biggest king tides in North Carolina
The spots where the year's highest tide stands furthest above an ordinary high tide:
- Ocean City Beach (fishing pier): 6.3 ft on Nov 25 at 7:18 AM, 1.4 ft above a typical high
- Wilmington Beach: 6.3 ft on Nov 25 at 7:33 AM, 1.4 ft above a typical high
- Oak Island, Yaupon Beach: 6.5 ft on Oct 1 at 8:44 AM, 1.3 ft above a typical high
- Sunset Beach Pier: 6.6 ft on Jun 5 at 8:42 PM, 1.3 ft above a typical high
- Cape Lookout Bight: 5.5 ft on Oct 27 at 8:18 AM, 1.3 ft above a typical high
King tide times for your spot
| Spot | Next king tides | Highest tide |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Beach | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24 | 5.1 ft Tue Oct 27, 8:23 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Atlantic Beach Bridge | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 3.5 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:09 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Bald Head | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 8–9 | 5.7 ft Sat Oct 10, 7:52 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Beaufort Inlet Channel Range | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.8 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:28 AM 1.1 ft above a typical high |
| Beaufort, Duke Marine Lab | Oct 11 then Oct 26–29, Nov 24–26 | 4.2 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:51 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Beaufort, Taylor Creek | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.2 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:13 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Bowen Point, Shallotte Inlet | Oct 27–29 then Nov 25–27, Jun 5 | 5.8 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:58 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.5 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:21 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Cape Lookout (ocean) | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 5.1 ft Wed Oct 28, 8:59 AM 1.1 ft above a typical high |
| Cape Lookout Bight | Oct 26–29 then Nov 23–27, Dec 24 | 5.5 ft Tue Oct 27, 8:18 AM 1.3 ft above a typical high |
| Cedar Island | Mar 16–26 then Apr 14–15, Sep 1–5 | 0.5 ft Wed Mar 17, 10:53 AM 0.2 ft above a typical high |
| Channel Marker Lt. 59 | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 2.9 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:46 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Coral Bay, Atlantic Beach | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 2.4 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:08 AM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Core Creek Bridge | Oct 11–12 then Oct 25–30, Nov 24–26 | 3.0 ft Sun Oct 11, 9:29 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Davis Slough | Oct 10–11 then Oct 26–30, Jul 4 | 1.2 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:26 AM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Davis, Core Sound | Oct 11–13 then Oct 25–31, Nov 24–26 | 1.7 ft Mon Oct 12, 12:10 PM 0.4 ft above a typical high |
| Duck Pier | Oct 11 then Oct 26–30, Nov 24–27 | 4.4 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:30 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Engelhard | Jul 31–Aug 2 then Aug 26–Sep 3, Sep 23–Oct 2 | 0.8 ft Sun Aug 1, 10:29 PM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Federal Point | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 8–9 | 5.1 ft Sun Oct 11, 9:25 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Fort Caswell | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 7–9 | 5.6 ft Sat Oct 10, 7:56 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Fort Macon, USCG Station | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:38 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Gallant Channel | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.5 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:10 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Hampstead | Oct 27–30 then Nov 25–26, Jul 3–4 | 4.7 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:32 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Harkers Island Bridge | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 2.3 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:29 AM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Hatteras (ocean) | Oct 10–14 then Oct 26–29, Sep 26–Oct 6 | 1.0 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:56 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Jennettes Pier, Nags Head (ocean) | Oct 11 then Oct 26–30, Nov 24–27 | 4.6 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:25 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Kitty Hawk (ocean) | Oct 11 then Oct 26–30, Nov 24–27 | 4.5 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:29 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Lenoxville Point | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 3.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:39 AM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Manns Harbor, Croatan Sound | Aug 29–Sep 5 then Sep 22–Oct 3 | 0.6 ft Tue Aug 31, 11:47 PM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Morehead City | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:47 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Morehead City Harbor | Oct 25–30 then Nov 23–27, Jul 4 | 4.5 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:08 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| New River Inlet | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.4 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:37 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Newport River (Yacht Club) | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 4.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:24 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| North River Bridge | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 2.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:46 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Oak Island, Yaupon Beach | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24 | 6.4 ft Tue Oct 27, 8:34 AM 1.2 ft above a typical high |
| Ocean City Beach (fishing pier) | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 6.2 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:24 AM 1.4 ft above a typical high |
| Ocracoke, Pamlico Sound | Oct 11–12 then Oct 25–30, Sep 2–4 | 1.4 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:45 AM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Old House Channel | Oct 10–11 then Oct 27–29, Aug 29–Sep 5 | 1.1 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:50 AM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Oregon Inlet (USCG Station) | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–26, Dec 24 | 3.0 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:28 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Oregon Inlet Bridge | Oct 10–11 then Oct 26–30, Jul 4 | 2.8 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:00 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Oregon Inlet Channel | Oct 10–11 then Oct 26–30, Jul 4 | 1.8 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:08 AM 0.4 ft above a typical high |
| Oregon Inlet Marina | Oct 10–11 then Oct 26–30, Jul 4 | 1.5 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:17 AM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Oriental, Neuse River | Feb 18–19 then Mar 16–21, Apr 13–17 | 0.7 ft Fri Feb 19, 1:54 PM 0.2 ft above a typical high |
| Orton Point | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 8–9 | 5.3 ft Sat Oct 10, 9:22 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Oyster Creek, Croatan Sound | Aug 30–Sep 8 then Sep 18–27, Sep 30–Oct 6 | 0.7 ft Fri Sep 3, 12:52 PM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Peter's Ditch | Nov 28–29 then Dec 25–28, Jan 22–26 | 0.6 ft Sat Nov 28, 1:22 PM 0.1 ft above a typical high |
| Pungo River, Route 45, Nc | Oct 29–31 then Nov 25–29, Dec 23–27 | 0.7 ft Thu Oct 29, 7:02 PM 0.1 ft above a typical high |
| Reaves Point | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 7–9 | 5.2 ft Sun Oct 11, 9:48 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Roanoke Marshes Light, Croatan Sound | Aug 30–Sep 7 then Sep 18–Oct 4 | 0.7 ft Fri Sep 3, 12:55 PM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Roanoke Sound Channel | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–30, Jul 4–5 | 0.7 ft Sat Oct 10, 9:54 AM 0.2 ft above a typical high |
| Rodanthe, Pamlico Sound | Aug 30–Sep 5 then Sep 13–23, Sep 27–Oct 3 | 1.0 ft Wed Sep 1, 11:45 PM 0.3 ft above a typical high |
| Sea Level | Oct 27–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 23–26 | 0.9 ft Wed Oct 28, 2:01 PM 0.2 ft above a typical high |
| Shinn Point, Icww | Oct 27–30 then Nov 25–27, Jul 3–5 | 5.3 ft Wed Oct 28, 10:08 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Sneads Ferry, New River | Oct 10–15 then Oct 27–29, Sep 23–26 | 1.3 ft Mon Oct 12, 11:00 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Southport | Oct 28 then Nov 24–27, Dec 23–26 | 5.5 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:57 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| SpoonersCreek | Oct 25–30 then Nov 23–27, Jun 5 | 2.6 ft Wed Oct 28, 11:37 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Sunny Point Army Base, Wharf no.1 | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 8–9 | 5.1 ft Sat Oct 10, 8:55 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Sunny Point Army Base, Wharf no.3 | Oct 25–30 then Nov 23–25, Jul 2–3 | 4.9 ft Tue Oct 27, 10:15 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Sunset Beach Pier | Nov 25 then Dec 24–25, Jan 22–23 | 6.4 ft Wed Nov 25, 7:20 AM 1.1 ft above a typical high |
| Swansboro, East Corbett Ave. Bridge | Oct 11–12 then Oct 26–30, Aug 28–30 | 2.3 ft Sun Oct 11, 10:08 AM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Varnamtown, Lockwoods Folly River | Oct 25–30 then Nov 23–27, Jun 4–5 | 5.4 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:51 AM 1.2 ft above a typical high |
| Wilmington | Oct 10–12 then Oct 26–28, Nov 8–9 | 5.4 ft Sat Oct 10, 9:58 AM 0.6 ft above a typical high |
| Wilmington Beach | Oct 26–29 then Nov 24–27, Dec 24–25 | 6.2 ft Wed Oct 28, 9:39 AM 1.4 ft above a typical high |
| Wrightsville Beach | Oct 10–11 then Oct 26–29, Nov 24–26 | 5.4 ft Sun Oct 11, 8:17 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Zekes Island | Oct 26–29 then Nov 23–26, Dec 23–25 | 5.4 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:50 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
Photograph the king tides
- Arrive half an hour before the peak time for your spot and stay until it passes.
- Include something people know for scale: a stair, a sign, a piling, a sea wall or a road.
- Take a matching photo from the same spot at an ordinary high tide. The pair shows the difference better than words.
- Note the place, date and time, and share it with your state's project below. Planners use these photos to see where the water will reach as sea level rises.
Stay safe
- Stay off jetties, sea walls and rock shelves near the peak. Waves run higher than usual on a king tide.
- On the Pacific coast, keep off drift logs and watch for sneaker waves; a log can roll on you in a few inches of surf.
- Don't drive or walk through flooded streets. Salt water ruins cars, and the curb and drains are hidden.
- Check the marine forecast. Onshore wind, low air pressure or heavy rain can add a foot or more to the predicted tide.
How these dates are worked out
For every spot we take NOAA's high and low tide predictions for the next 12 months and find each day's highest tide. The days in that spot's top 5% (about 18 days a year) are its king tide days, and days next to each other make one window. A statewide window is a run of days when at least a quarter of the state's spots are in theirs. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero on tide charts. Predictions don't include weather. Not for navigation.