Perigee

King tides in North Carolina, 2026

The biggest predicted tide in North Carolina in 2026 reaches 5.9 ft above MLLW at Bowen Point, Shallotte Inlet on Sunday, May 17, at 9:13 PMlocal time. Below are all of the year's king tide windows — the top 1% of predicted highs — for NOAA reference stations along the North Carolinacoast. King tides are perigean spring tides: they arrive when a full or new moon lines up with the moon's closest approach to Earth, and they preview the flooding that sea level rise will make routine. Read how king tides work.

Atlantic Beach

King tides (5.1 ft and above) at NOAA station 8656590. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • May 16–17 — peaks 5.2 ft at 8:32 PM
  • Jun 14–15 — peaks 5.2 ft at 7:22 PM
  • Oct 27–28 — peaks 5.1 ft at 8:23 AM
  • Nov 25–26 — peaks 5.2 ft at 7:05 AM

Beaufort, Duke Marine Lab

King tides (4.2 ft and above) at NOAA station 8656483. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • May 17 — peaks 4.3 ft at 9:18 PM
  • Jun 14 — peaks 4.2 ft at 8:09 PM
  • Oct 26–29 — peaks 4.4 ft at 9:07 AM
  • Nov 25–26 — peaks 4.3 ft at 7:50 AM

Bowen Point, Shallotte Inlet

King tides (5.8 ft and above) at NOAA station 8659665. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • May 16–18 — peaks 5.9 ft at 9:13 PM
  • Jun 14–15 — peaks 5.9 ft at 8:03 PM
  • Jul 13 — peaks 5.8 ft at 7:47 PM
  • Nov 25–26 — peaks 5.8 ft at 8:44 AM

CAPE HATTERAS FISHING PIER

King tides (4.4 ft and above) at NOAA station 8654400. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • May 16–17 — peaks 4.5 ft at 8:43 PM
  • Jun 14–15 — peaks 4.4 ft at 8:29 PM
  • Oct 27–28 — peaks 4.4 ft at 9:21 AM
  • Nov 25–26 — peaks 4.5 ft at 7:15 AM

Cape Lookout Bight

King tides (5.4 ft and above) at NOAA station 8656841. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • May 16–17 — peaks 5.4 ft at 8:28 PM
  • Oct 26–28 — peaks 5.5 ft at 8:19 AM
  • Nov 24–26 — peaks 5.5 ft at 7:02 AM

Cedar Island

King tides (0.5 ft and above) at NOAA station 8655151. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • Mar 24–29 — peaks 0.5 ft at 10:48 AM

Core Creek Bridge

King tides (3.2 ft and above) at NOAA station 8656084. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • Sep 28–1 — peaks 3.3 ft at 11:58 AM
  • Oct 26–29 — peaks 3.3 ft at 10:48 AM

Davis, Core Sound

King tides (1.7 ft and above) at NOAA station 8656201. Full year: 2026 tide table.

  • Sep 28–1 — peaks 1.8 ft at 1:58 PM
  • Oct 26–29 — peaks 1.8 ft at 12:48 PM

NOAA CO-OPS harmonic predictions, datum MLLW, station local time. Actual water level can run higher with storms, onshore wind, and low pressure — king tide + storm is the flooding combination to watch. Predictions are for planning, not navigation.

Also available: North Carolina king tides 2027.