Low tide in Victoria drops slightly below zero metres on Thursday

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Low tide was just below the mean sea level in Victoria's Inner Harbour on June 14.

Low tide was just below the mean sea level in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on June 14.

It was a low tide that amazed both residents and tourists in Victoria.

On Thursday morning at 10 a.m., low tide hit -0.03 metres below the relative mean sea level, according to data from the Canadian Hydrographic Society. It was supposed to hit 0.0 metres.

WEB RAW LOW TIDE JUNE 14

WEB RAW LOW TIDE JUNE 14

Duration 6s

Denny Sinnott, supervisor with Tides, Current and Water Levels, Canadian Hydrographic Service-Pacific Region said there were three reasons behind the significantly low tide.

The first reason is a new moon, which is when the sun and the moon are aligned.

“Each of those bodies, the moon and the sun, have a gravitational pull on the water surface of the Earth, so typically, when they are lined up as they are now in a new moon situation, the pull is greater, so you will get what we call ‘spring tides.’ You will get higher highs and lower lows,” Sinnott said.

The moon has also reached a “perigee,” which is its closest point of approach to the Earth. This occurs once every 28 days and is the point at which the gravitational pull of the moon is the strongest.

“So we’ve got a couple of things lining up and causing these big tides,” Sinnott said.

And according to Sinnott, the moon is also on its highest northern orbit.

“Because of our location and because of where it is, it tends to pull a little bit more, have a little more of a gravitational effect,” Sinnott said.

Sinnott said three of the lowest tides in Victoria are expected to be seen over the next three months, during a series of three supermoons. The dates are predicted on June 15, July 13 and Aug. 11. On Friday, the low tide is expected to hit -0.1 metres. The low tide on July 13 is predicted to be the same and then the one in August will be 0.1 metres.

Low tide was just below the mean sea level in Victoria's Inner Harbour on June 14.

Low tide was just below the mean sea level in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on June 14.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp, as well as exposing purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp and purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp, as well as exposing purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp and purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp, as well as exposing purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

The low tide exposed tidal pools with sculpins, small shrimp and purple starfish in Brentwood Bay. Photo Credit: Lisa Woodward.

Alexa HuffmanAlexa Huffman

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