Major spring tide: 12–16 August 2026
A major spring tide is forecast on 12–16 August 2026 along the Atlantic coast and the English Channel, around the new moon. The tidal coefficient peaks at 102 (SHOM reference, port of Brest), with the strongest tides around 14 August. The sea drops very low and rises very high — one of the largest tidal ranges of the season.
What the coefficient means
The tidal coefficient (SHOM) runs from 20 (neap tides) to 120 (exceptional tides). A spring tide is called "major" from 100 upwards. The higher it is, the greater the difference between high and low water. A coefficient of 102 signals a very large range.
Out on the shore
It's a prime time for shore foraging: at low water the foreshore is widely exposed, revealing clams, cockles and rock pools usually hidden under the sea. A great chance to explore sandbanks and reefs you rarely get to see.
Stay safe
The Brest coefficient gives the trend, but actual times and heights vary from port to port. Always check your own location's low-water time — and above all when the tide turns: on the foreshore the water comes back fast. See the high and low tides for your station below, or follow your favourite beaches with alerts in the Tidova app.