When Was the Last Spring Tide? The 2026 Answer

Spring tides happen roughly every two weeks, at the new moon and full moon, so the most recent one was whichever of those lunar events fell closest to today. Because the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up at those points, their gravitational pulls reinforce each other and produce the highest high tides and lowest low tides of the cycle. If you’re asking when was the last spring tide, the answer is simply the new moon or full moon you passed most recently — typically no more than about seven days ago.

How Spring Tides Work

“Spring” here has nothing to do with the season. It comes from the older sense of the word meaning to leap up, and it describes tides that rise higher than normal. At new and full moon, the Sun and Moon pull on the ocean along nearly the same line, so their effects combine. Around the first and third quarters, the Moon sits at a right angle to the Sun and the pulls partly cancel, giving the smaller “neap” tides. This two-week rhythm is why a spring tide shows up about every 14 to 15 days, and why the highest tides often lag the exact lunar phase by a day or two as the water responds.

A quick example: if the full moon falls on a Friday, the last spring tide is best dated to that Friday, though the very highest water might arrive on the Saturday or Sunday, depending on the coastline and weather.

Why the Exact Date Varies by Location

The astronomical alignment is global, but the actual tide you see is local. Coastal shape, water depth, and prevailing winds all shift how much the tide rises and exactly when the peak occurs, which is why a spring tide on one coast can peak hours or even a day apart from another.

For a precise answer for your own area, check a tide table for the nearest station rather than relying on the moon phase alone. NOAA’s National Ocean Service explains the underlying astronomy, and NOAA Tides and Currents publishes predicted high and low water times for thousands of U.S. stations, so you can pin down the exact last spring high tide where you live.

Key Takeaways

• The last spring tide was the most recent new moon or full moon, usually within the past week.
• Spring tides occur about every two weeks and are unrelated to the spring season.
• The highest water can lag the lunar phase by a day or two, and timing varies by location.
• Use local tide tables from NOAA Tides and Currents for exact times in your area.