Can several days of heavy rain affect the tidal times near the coast?
While heavy rain can increase the volume of water in rivers and bays near the coast and serve to increase the magnitude of the tide, it will not have an effect on the tidal times. Weather systems, with onshore or offshore winds, can also impact the volume of water and the height of tides, but not their timing. The shape of bays and estuaries, as well as the depth of coastal waters, also has an impact on the height of the tide.The timing of tides is determined by the relative positions of the Earth, sun and moon, with the highest high tides and lowest low tides occurring when the gravitational pull of the sun, moon and Earth are aligned. Read an FAQ on oceans, waves and tides on this USA TODAY resource page.
