Hurricane Erin to pass by Del, NJ during August new moon; what that means for high tides
Hurricane Erin has maximum sustainted winds of 105 mph and is forecast to grow, as of 11 a.m. ET on Aug. 19, according to the National Hurricane Center. They've issued tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding for parts of North Carolina and life-threatening rip currents along East Coast beaches, many of which have already been shut down in Delaware and New Jersey.
The dangerous storm is expected to cause beach erosion and coastal flooding in some areas, all of which could be worsened by the higher-than-normal tides this week, leading up to Saturday's new moon.
Here's when and what to know about the August new moon and how it causes high tides.
When is the next new moon?
The next new moon, known as the black moon, will occur on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 at 2:06 a.m. ET.
Why does the moon causes high tides?
High tides and low tides are caused by the moon because the moon's gravity pulls on everything on Earth, including the oceans. It is the primary force behind high tides, which pulls bulges of water on the side of the Earth closest to the moon, according to NASA.
According to NOAA, the bulge on the side closest to the moon and the side farthest to the moon are high tides. When not in one of these bulges, it is low tide. As the Earth rotates, bodies of water pass through both of the bulges each day creating two high tide cycles and two low tides.
Twice a month, during the full moon and new moon phases, the Earth, sun and moon line up and the combined gravitational power of the sun and moon cause extremely high tides where the bulges occur, called spring tides.
High tides and storm surges — when storm winds whip up coastal waters — combine to create dangerous flooding conditions.
What are the moon phases for August 2025?
🌓 First Quarter: Aug. 1🌕 Full Moon: Aug. 9🌗 Last Quarter: Aug. 16🌑 New Moon: Aug. 23🌓 First Quarter: Aug. 31
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon in September will be the harvest moon. It will occur on Sept. 7, 2025
When is the next new moon?
The next new moon will occur on Sept. 21, 2025.
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is August new moon and what will it mean during Hurricane Erin?
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