December 12, 2024
High water levels during a king tide at Alki Beach in Seattle. Photo credit: Ashli Blow.
The highest tides of the year return to Washington state this weekend, with areas like Shelton and Olympia expecting high tides over 16 feet.
King tides, extreme-high tides that occur when Earth experiences increased gravitational pull from the moon and sun, are an annual yet dramatic feature of Washington winters. Alone, they can cause flooding conditions in low-lying areas. Combined with other factors–like high winds and wave action, especially during coastal storms–flooding can become more intense, and widespread.
The Washington King Tides program, run by Washington Sea Grant (WSG) and the Washington Department of Ecology, invites people to visit shorelines during a king tide or high water event while taking precautions to be safe. Taking pictures of important waterfront locations and uploading them to the MyCoast website or app helps scientists, local planners and decision-makers understand how sea-level rise and storm surges affect local infrastructure and ecosystems.
In December 2022, king tides joined with heavy rain to bring severe flooding to Olympia, low-lying parts of Seattle, and other coastal communities across Western Washington. In Westport, on the Pacific Coast, streets downtown have flooded even without compounding factors like wind and waves. “You already have these high water levels, you have storms, you have waves, and that king tide will just be enough to push it over into someone’s home, or flooding a street,” said Bridget Trosin, WSG coastal policy specialist, in an interview for King5 news last year.
While king tides can be damaging, they also present opportunities for storm-chasers, climate scientists, and the public alike in both demonstrating the power of the ocean and painting a picture of what future water levels could look like.
See the WSG King Tides Calendar for more information about specific water levels and when to expect them near you. If you plan to go view a king tide, remember these safety tips:
- Be extra careful when walking on slippery surfaces.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Be aware of weather conditions and big waves.
- Always stay a safe distance away from waves.
- Remember to obey safety signage and guard rails.
- Never turn your back on the ocean.
Visit MyCoast or the King Tides Program website for more information.
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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. Washington Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
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DEC
2024