Memorial Day Weekend Brings Good Weather and Lowest Tides in Years

Get out and see what's happening at low tide.

This coming Memorial Day Weekend's weather is forecast to be sunny and warm. Along with the weather will come the lowest daytime tides Puget Sound has seen in years. In the table below is the anticipated weather and the low tides for the day (tides and time are at Olympia).

For other locations in Puget Sound, visit NOAA's web site. Below is an example for McMicken Island for the dates of May 26, 27, 28 and 29. 

South Puget Sound's Extreme Low/High Tides of Memorial Weekend

Olympia Times/Elevations (click here for an interactive tidal/current map of all Puget Sound)

Saturday: 12:34 PM  -3.6   7:36  +15.4 (elevation change of 19 feet)
Sunday: 1:20 PM  -3.9 8:25PM  +15.8 (elevation change of 19.7 feet)
Monday: 2:08 PM -3.7 9:14PM + 15.9 (elevation change of 19.6 feet)

This weekend south Puget Sound will experience extreme low tides dropping to a low of -3.9 on Sunday, followed by a high tide +15.8. This change in elevation of near 20' is one of the largest of the year in all of Puget Sound, surpassed only by that seen next month.

DeepZoom Nautical Charts

(click on the above for an interactive chart

showing elevation changes and current speeds)

This epic flow of water into and out of south Puget Sound results in current speeds through the Tacoma Narrows of over 7.5 knots, topped only by Deception Pass at 8 knots. Currents in Hammersley Inlet are over 4 knots with whirlpools forming in all three passages.

Experience this part of Puget Sound which is rarely possible during the daylight  hours.