when do neap tides occur

Neap tides occur about twice a month, during the first-quarter and third- quarter (last-quarter) phases of the Moon, when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other relative to Earth, producing the smallest difference between high and low tide.

Quick Scoop: When Do Neap Tides Happen?

• Neap tides occur roughly every 14 days in the lunar cycle.

• They line up with the first-quarter and third-quarter Moon phases.

• At these times, high tides are lower than usual and low tides are higher than usual, so the tidal range is minimal.

• Neap tides typically occur about 7 days after a spring tide, which is when the tidal range was at its greatest.

A Simple Way to Picture It

Imagine the Moon has just been full, giving you big spring tides with very high highs and very low lows. About a week later, the Moon reaches its first- quarter phase; now the pull of the Sun and Moon partly cancel each other, and you get a neap tide with much gentler highs and lows. Another week brings a new spring tide, and a week after that—at third quarter—you hit another neap tide.

TL;DR: Neap tides occur twice a month, at the Moon’s first and third quarters, about a week after each spring tide, and they bring the smallest difference between high and low water.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.