An astronomical phenomenon called a “king tide” will bring unusually high tides and possible minor flooding to the Beaufort County area this weekend. Peak water levels are expected Saturday morning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This means the gravitational pull of the moon is at its strongest. During the fall months, whenever there is a new or full moon, tides can run higher than normal for multiple hours throughout the high tide cycle. This is called the king tide, also known as sunny day flooding.