Bay Side Off Easy

During northeasters, bay residents on the South Fork fear high tides more than heavy surf. Bayfront residents got off relatively easily during the last two northeast storms, thankful that the particular storm last week came at a relatively low astronomical tide cycle -neap tide - when the moon was at first quarter.

A slow moving northeaster, one that blows consistently for a couple of days the way last week's storm did, multiplies the number of high tide cycles that take place during the period. Tidal stacking results here in the Gardiner's Bay area, where one high tide cycle cannot ebb against the driving forces of the persistent northeast wind.

Each successive high tide builds upon the remaining level of the last tide that didn't quite ebb.