TIDES & WEATHER

Although the tide range in Southwest Florida only averages about 24 inches, due to our shallow waters the tides can determine where you can and can’t access by water. Generally, the open bays tend to be accessible at any tide, but some mangrove areas can become high and dry at low tide. Another thing to consider are tide heights. Tides are based on “mean low tide”, which is considered “0 (zero)”. A negative tide is any water level below this, and generally happens around the full and new moon phases, and cold fronts in the winter months. When a tide chart says that the high tide is 2.2′, it means the water level will be 2.2′ above mean low tide. Our tides in Southwest Florida are irregular. In most other places, there are 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day. The tide cycle is approximately 24.5-25 hours long and repeats every 14 days – but not on the west coast of Florida. Here, we sometimes have 2 tides a day, and sometimes only one. Sometimes, high tides are lower than some low tides. To throw another wrench into the equation, North and Northeasterly winds can drop our water levels as much as 1′ or more, and Southwesterly winds can raise water levels. Think of this like a storm surge. Water is pushed in and out by the wind, depending on wind direction and speed. The best way to anticipate what water levels will be is to use a tide graph, not a tide chart. A tide graph shows the water level at any given time, which also allows you to see how quickly the tide is falling or rising, allowing you to predict tidal currents. A tide chart only shows the times of high & low tides and the water levels at those times, so you have no way of knowing what is happening in between. In most places, that’s no problem, but with our irregular tides, a tide graph gives you much more accurate information. You can see the difference between tide charts and tide graphs below. Click on the buttons to view current charts or graphs for our Bunche Beach and Pelican Bay locations.