Geographers are warning a super moon in Christchurch tonight will bring high tides which could cause flooding to low-lying areas.
A University of Canterbury researcher said that an unusually close moon would cause variations between high and low tides to reach their maximum off the coast of Christchurch city over the next 24 hours.
The high tide at 4.46pm today would create tidal water levels 2.46m above this morning's low tide.
Geography researcher and flooding expert Dr Deidre Hart said this was the biggest possible tidal range the sea level gauge at Sumner Head could measure.
Scientists said this event would help them understand the effectiveness of the city's drainage system.
Meanwhile, the Christchurch City Council said it did not have concerns that the super moon would cause tidal flooding along the city's coast this evening.
A city council spokesperson said the tides would be somewhat suppressed by the high pressure weather system that was sitting over Canterbury at present.
