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2h ago

King Tides, Storm Surge Push Bay Area Toward Coastal Flood Warnings

Forecasters cite a rare celestial alignment with strong southerly winds as tides peak Friday and Saturday.

People walk on the sand at La Jolla Shores beach during a low king tide at sunset on Jan. 12, 2024 in San Diego, Calif.
A Port of San Francisco worker surveys a walkway at Pier 14 while placing cones to alert people of the flooding as the king tides arrive on Dec. 3, 2021. King tides are coming to the Bay Area this weekend, potentially raising the high tide to 8 feet.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect through Sunday afternoon for much of the Bay Area and Central Coast. Here, king tides flood a bike path in Mill Valley on Dec. 6. 
Forecasters said a rare alignment of astronomical tides and gusty winds could send seawater into streets, parks and other low-lying areas — especially during peak tides Friday and Saturday.

Overview

  • A coastal flood advisory is in effect through Sunday for the Pacific coast and the shorelines of San Francisco, San Pablo and Monterey bays.
  • In San Francisco, morning high tides are forecast near 8 feet above mean lower low water on Friday and Saturday, roughly 2.2 feet above normal, with Monterey possibly nearing its 1983 record level.
  • An incoming low-pressure system could generate up to a foot of storm surge, with large breaking waves approaching 15 feet and gusty winds increasing coastal hazards.
  • Rain returns Wednesday through the weekend, with 4 to 6 inches possible in the North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur, and 1 to 3 inches elsewhere, raising risks of urban flooding and fast-rising creeks.
  • Flooding of streets, parks and parking lots is likely during peak tides, and officials urge drivers to avoid flooded roads as extremely low tides may also expose marine life and historic artifacts that draw crowds.