GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) advises the public to be cautious near the coastline during the full moon spring tide that peaks during the full moon period today and tomorrow (30 and 31 August).

This blue moon (a blue moon is a rare second full moon during the same month) will be a supermoon, meaning the moon is closer to earth than normal, the NSRI noted in a media statement.

It is the third of four supermoons in a row and this one will be the largest (closest) full supermoon of 2023.
Planet Saturn can be seen in the sky near to the moon, also in its planetary position closest to the earth in 2023.

As is normal this full moon brings the spring tide – where high tide is higher than normal and low tide is lower than normal, the NSRI stated.

Spring tides occur at full moon and at new moon every month. Spring tide can have an increased effect on the strength of rip currents and caution is advised.

The NSRI appeals to bathers, coastal hikers, shoreline anglers, boaters, sailors, paddlers and the maritime community to be cautious at the coastline.

Already you may have noticed the growing spring tide’s high tide higher than normal and low tide lower than normal - building gradually over the past few days, the NSRI noted.

The full effect will be seen today and tomorrow and then it will gradually decline over the next few days, into the new week, the NSRI advised.

There have also been rough sea conditions, with cold fronts recently and storms prevailing deep sea, off the South African coastline.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’