Monday morning’s Supermoon will cause supertides which will cause tides along the Sefton coast, at Southport, Ainsdale and Formby, above 10 metres high.
Four natural phenomena are conspiring to cause large swells, the Environment Agency has warned.
Sea levels are governed by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, a force which was offset when the orbs eclipsed on Monday morning.
They are also enhanced by the autumn equinox, which this year fell on September 23, and the alignment of the earth, moon and sun in a cycle occurring once every 18.6 years.
Four natural phenomena are conspiring to cause large swells, the Environment Agency has warned.
Sea levels are governed by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, a force which was offset when the orbs eclipsed on Monday morning.
They are also enhanced by the autumn equinox, which this year fell on September 23, and the alignment of the earth, moon and sun in a cycle occurring once every 18.6 years.
However experts say despite expecting higher than normal tides over this week, flooding is unlikely due to good weather predictions.
High pressure is expected over the next ten days which according to John Curtin, the Environment Agency’s Interim Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, means there is no need to panic.
Monday morning’s lunar eclipse also coincided with the moon passing through its closest point in its orbit around the Earth.
This combined with two other natural astronomical factors are the cause of such huge waves.
A spokesman for the National Tidal and Seal Level Facility explained: “Spring tides are particularly large close to the equinoxes when the sun is overhead at the equator.
Photo: Ainsdale Beach this morning
Due to predicted high tides, Sefton Council have close Ainsdale beach for car parking.
Alternative parking is available at the Ainsdale Discovery Centre, and Lifeboat Road Car Park in Formby remains open with boardwalk access to the beach.
As a general guide, parking is unavailable at Ainsdale Beach when tides of 9.5m and over are predicted.
Please note the beaches may be closed to parking at other times for reasons such as severe weather or organised events.
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