King tides — SCDES publishes the annual Charleston calendar

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), Bureau of Coastal Management, publishes the state's king tide calendar and runs the SC King Tides initiative. SCDES's published 2026 PREDICTED KING TIDES: April 18; May 15-18; June 14-16; July 13-14; August 11-12; September 29-30; October 10-11; October 26-29; November 24-27. SCDES defines the term in its own words: 'The term "King Tide" is a non-scientific term used to describe the highest seasonal tides that occur each year. For example, in Charleston, the average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., whereas during a King Tide event the high tide range may reach 7 ft. or higher.' On cause: they occur 'when a spring tide. takes place when the moon is closest to Earth during the 28-day elliptical orbit (known as perigee).' On effect: 'In some cases, they may barely even be noticed. In other cases, a King Tide may cause coastal erosion, flooding of low-lying areas and disruption to normal daily routines. This is particularly true when a King Tide event coincides with significant precipitation because water drainage and runoff is impeded.' And: 'Over time, the frequency and effect of King Tide events may increase due to gradual mean sea level rise.' SCDES also publishes annual Tide Table posters (2026 edition available) and collects citizen photographs through the MyCoast: South Carolina app. NOAA publishes its own annual tide prediction tables for Charleston each October 1 for the following calendar year. Checked 2026-09-04.