King tides in Pennsylvania, 2026–27
King tides are the highest tides of the year. The next statewide king tides are May 19–21, when 13 of 13 spots have their highest tides of the year. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 13 spots in Pennsylvania, worked out for the next 12 months.
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Pennsylvania king tide dates
| Dates | Peak day | Spots at their highest that day |
|---|---|---|
| May 19–21 | Thu May 20 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Jun 5–6 | Sun Jun 6 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Jun 17 | Thu Jun 17 | 9 of 13 spots |
| Jul 3–6 | Mon Jul 5 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Aug 1–4 | Tue Aug 3 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Aug 30–Sep 1 | Wed Sep 1 | 13 of 13 spots |
| Sep 30–Oct 2 | Thu Sep 30 | 13 of 13 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 Pennsylvania
The spots where the year's highest tide stands furthest above an ordinary high tide:
- Philadelphia, Municipal Pier 11, Pa.: 7.8 ft on Aug 3 at 2:43 AM, 1.2 ft above a typical high
- Edgely, Pa.: 9.4 ft on Aug 3 at 3:39 AM, 1.0 ft above a typical high
- Newbold, Pa.: 9.3 ft on Apr 21 at 3:31 AM, 1.0 ft above a typical high
- Cornwells Heights, Pa.: 8.7 ft on Aug 3 at 3:17 AM, 0.9 ft above a typical high
- Marcus Hook, Pa.: 7.1 ft on Jul 5 at 1:22 AM, 0.9 ft above a typical high
King tide times for your spot
| Spot | Next king tides | Highest tide |
|---|---|---|
| Bridesburg, Philadelphia, Pa. | May 19–21 then Jun 4–7, Jul 3–6 | 7.6 ft Wed May 19, 1:27 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Cornwells Heights, Pa. | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 8.6 ft Wed May 19, 1:55 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Edgely, Pa. | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 9.3 ft Wed May 19, 2:17 AM 0.9 ft above a typical high |
| Marcus Hook, Pa. | Oct 27–28 then May 8, May 20 | 6.9 ft Tue Oct 27, 1:28 PM 0.8 ft above a typical high |
| Market Street Bridge | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 7.3 ft Wed May 19, 12:49 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Newbold, Pa. | Apr 20–23 then May 8, May 18–21 | 9.3 ft Wed Apr 21, 3:31 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Norwood City | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 7.1 ft Wed May 19, 12:27 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Penrose Avenue Bridge | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 7.0 ft Wed May 19, 12:47 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Philadelphia, Municipal Pier 11, Pa. | Apr 20–22 then May 19–20, Jun 6–7 | 7.6 ft Wed Apr 21, 2:35 AM 1.0 ft above a typical high |
| Philadelphia, US Coast Guard Station, Pa. | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 7.3 ft Wed May 19, 1:09 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 6.7 ft Wed May 19, 12:47 AM 0.7 ft above a typical high |
| Tinicum National Wildlife Refuge | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 17 | 5.4 ft Wed May 19, 12:45 AM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Wanamaker Bridge | May 19–21 then Jun 5–6, Jun 16 | 7.0 ft Wed May 19, 12:23 AM 0.7 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.