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Highest tide of year is Thursday

The highest tide of the year will be surging onto the shores of Haida Gwaii this afternoon (Oct. 27).According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans tide tables, the 25.3 foot tide should reach Queen Charlotte at 2:10 pm. In Masset, the tide will be 13.5 feet at 2:31 pm.Friday afternoon (Oct. 28) will also bring high tides, with a 24.9 foot tide in Charlotte just before 3 pm, and 13.5 feet in Masset at 3:14 pm.Queen Charlotte resident Brian Eccles said he will be out taking pictures of the high tide and comparing its reach at several reference points like the ferry landing and the community hall."It will be an exceptionally high tide," he said, adding that weather conditions could bring the water even higher.Tlell should be a good spot for watching the tide Thursday afternoon, Mr. Eccles said, particularly the intersection of Wiggins Road and Highway 16. Past high tides have blocked the road here with driftwood and other debris.Although Thursday's tide will be the highest one of 2011, it isn't classified as a "king tide". King tides are high tides that occur twice a year, in winter and summer, when the Earth, moon and sun are aligned in a particular way.