August 05, 2020
New Tide Station
The Town’s new water level monitoring station, located at the Kiawah River Bridge, provides real-time water level information that is now available to residents and the general public here.
In addition to the water level data, the webpage also provides real-time weather information from a weather station recently installed by the Town on the roof of The Timbers oceanfront residences. The water level monitoring station is solar-powered and collects water level data every 15 minutes with an accuracy of 2 mm or less. Data is transmitted in real-time via the cellular network, and the station will also transmit data via satellite if the cellular network goes down during a storm event. Historically, tidal data predictions for the Kiawah River Bridge were extrapolated from nearby stations in the Charleston area. This new station will collect current and historical water level data specific to Kiawah and allow for monitoring the long-term effects of sea-level rise. The weather station is also solar-powered and collects and transmits weather data every minute. It will provide critical data during storm events, and in conjunction with water level data, will assist in the emergency management decision-making process.
Understanding the Public Webpage
The current water level can be seen at the top of the page. The chart underneath provides current and historical data for the previous seven days. The blue line represents the current output from the Town station, and the black line represents the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) tide prediction for the same time period as well as the following three days. Below the chart are two additional tables that provide historical data from the station as well as a listing of King Tide events by date. If you have questions, email Jim Jordan at jjordan@kiawahisland.org.
