King tides in Washington, D.C., 2026–27
King tides are the highest tides of the year. The next statewide king tides are Oct 26–28, when 5 of 5 spots have their highest tides of the year. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 5 spots in Washington, D.C., worked out for the next 12 months.
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Washington, D.C. king tide dates
| Dates | Peak day | Spots at their highest that day |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26–28 | Mon Oct 26 | 5 of 5 spots |
| May 7–9 | Fri May 7 | 5 of 5 spots |
| May 18–20 | Wed May 19 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Jun 3–7 | Thu Jun 3 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Jul 3–5 | Sat Jul 3 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Sep 1–3 | Wed Sep 1 | 5 of 5 spots |
| Sep 29–Oct 2 | Wed Sep 29 | 5 of 5 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 Washington, D.C.
The spots where the year's highest tide stands furthest above an ordinary high tide:
- Kenilworth Aquatic Garden: 3.8 ft on Sep 30 at 9:28 PM, 0.6 ft above a typical high
- Kingman Lake: 3.8 ft on Sep 30 at 9:21 PM, 0.6 ft above a typical high
- Bellevue, D.C.: 3.7 ft on Sep 30 at 9:33 PM, 0.6 ft above a typical high
- Washington Naval Yard: 3.7 ft on Sep 30 at 9:17 PM, 0.6 ft above a typical high
- Washington, Washington Channel, D.C.: 3.6 ft on Sep 30 at 8:59 PM, 0.6 ft above a typical high
King tide times for your spot
| Spot | Next king tides | Highest tide |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, D.C. | Oct 26–27 then May 7–8, May 19–20 | 3.6 ft Tue Oct 27, 10:01 PM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Kenilworth Aquatic Garden | Oct 26–28 then May 7–9, May 18–20 | 3.7 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:56 PM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Kingman Lake | Oct 26–28 then May 7–9, May 18–20 | 3.7 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:49 PM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Washington Naval Yard | Oct 26–28 then May 7–9, May 19–20 | 3.6 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:45 PM 0.5 ft above a typical high |
| Washington, Washington Channel, D.C. | Oct 26–27 then May 7–8, May 19–20 | 3.5 ft Tue Oct 27, 9:27 PM 0.5 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.