When Was the Last Spring Tide? Dates and How to Check
The most recent spring tide depends on your location, but in most places it occurred within the last week or two, since spring tides recur roughly every two weeks. Spring tides happen near every new and full moon, so the last one fell around the most recent new or full moon. To pinpoint the exact date, check your local tide table.
Why Spring Tides Happen Twice a Month
A spring tide isn’t named for the season. It comes from the idea of the tide “springing up.” These tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth line up, which happens at both new moon and full moon. During those alignments, the sun’s and moon’s gravitational pulls combine, producing the largest tidal range — higher high tides and lower low tides. About a week later, at the first- and third-quarter moons, the pulls partly cancel and you get neap tides, the smallest range.
Because new and full moons are roughly two weeks apart, spring tides also arrive about every two weeks. The exact dates shift each month as the moon’s phase progresses, and local geography can delay the peak by a day or more. The NOAA National Ocean Service explains this sun-moon alignment clearly.
Quick example: If the full moon falls on a Friday, the surrounding spring tide typically peaks that same day or within a day on either side. Checking the most recent new or full moon usually gives you the answer.
How to Check Your Local Date
Tide predictions come from regional authorities, and they are the reliable way to confirm the exact timing where you are. In the UK, the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility publishes tide tables and monitoring data. In the US, NOAA provides official tide predictions by station. For marine weather that affects boating and coastal conditions, the National Weather Service is a useful companion source.
To find the last spring tide for your area: look up the most recent new or full moon, then check your local tide station’s high and low times for those dates. The day with the greatest difference between high and low water is your spring tide. Remember that wind and weather can nudge actual water levels above or below predictions.
Key Takeaways
- The last spring tide occurred near the most recent new or full moon — typically within the past one to two weeks for most locations.
- Spring tides happen about every two weeks, producing the largest tidal range.
- Confirm the exact date using your regional tide table, such as NOAA in the US or the NTSLF in the UK.
- Neap tides fall about a week after spring tides, bringing the smallest range.
