We built this tool out of a love for tides and astronomical calculations but it is not intended to be used for navigation or any purpose where you would need to rely on the data being accurate. Tide times and heights may not be 100% accurate and they also do not account for local weather conditions. Our tide prediction model for Virginia Beach, Virginia uses harmonic constants and the nearest available coordinates along with the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) to define the chart datum. Tide Predictions for Virginia Beach, Virginia A spring tide is when the high and low tide difference is at it's most extreme, the highest and the lowest tides of the month. When we experience a high tide, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are in alignment, and this creats a strong gravitational pull. We call these tides neap tides, and it's when the difference between high and low tide is at its lowest.Ī neap tide happens between two spring tides, twice a month when the first and last quarter Moon appears. This means that the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun actually work against each other. When we experience a low tide, the Moon is facing the Earth at a right angle to the Sun. These tide types occur twice every month. These are called the spring tide (also known as the King tide) and the neap tide. There are two types, or extremes, of the tide. Inertia wins, and this caused the ocean to bulge out and create a high tide.Īs the Earth spins, different locations on the planet will face the moon, and this rotation is what allows the tides to cycle around the planet. The water moving away from the moon is able to result the gravitational forces trying to pull it in the opposition direction because the gravitational pull is weaker on the far side of Earth. On the opposite side of Earth, the bulge is caused by inertia. The gravitational pull of the moon is strongest on whichever side of the Earth is facing it, annd gravity pulls the oceans towards the moon, resulting in a high tide. Tidal forces of the moon in the open ocean will form as bulges of water that face the moon, but around land mass and coast lines, the water is able to spread out onto land, which creates the tides.Įarth's tides change based on the gravitational pull of the moon as it orbits us.

At the lowest point (also known as a trough) reaches the coast, we experience a low tide. When the highest point of the wave (also known as a crest) reaches a coastline, the coast experiences what we call a high tide.

The tides are very long waves that move across our oceans, and they are caused by the gravitational pull from the moon and, to a lesser extent, the sun. The data and charts above provide the tide time predictions for Virginia Beach, Virginia for December 2023, with extra details provided for today, Thursday December 14, 2023.

Virginia tidal charts