King Tide Events Today and Tomorrow

An aerial view of the February 2020 King Tides. [Photo courtesy of Humboldt State University. Special thanks to photographer Kelly Jo Brown and pilot Dave Marshall]

The Coastal Commission is seeking community assistance with photo-documenting water levels during the King Tide events occurring Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5.

King Tide events show projections of what “normal” tide levels could look like in the future as a result of sea level rise, and a visual record of King Tide events from year to year provides valuable data used when planning for sea level rise.

King tide observers are encouraged to share photos of the King Tides to the California Coastal Commission’s King Tide story map. More information on King Tides and instructions on how to upload photos to the map can be found at coastal.ca.gov/kingtides. Images of the tides on Arcata Bay, in local creeks and streams and locations throughout Humboldt County are welcome and encouraged.

Community members who choose to observe the King Tides are urged to follow safety precautions around the water. Please follow these tips to safely observe the King Tides:

• • Pick a safe place away from large waves. There are plenty of safe places to observe the tides at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary.

• • Avoid jetties, rocks, logs and other slippery surfaces.

• • Oserve the tides from higher ground at the beach. Select an elevated viewpoint, like a cliff with an established safety barricade to watch the tides. Pay attention to all warnings to stay off the beach. Do not cross barricades or fences.

• • Always consider your safety before heading out close to the waves. Community members with slower response times are advised not to venture close to the waves.

• • If you choose to observe the tides at the edge of the surf, watch how far the waves are coming in and how volatile the ocean is before setting foot on the beach. When approaching the beach, get there using a route that is easy to retrace in case of an emergency.

• • Always keep an eye on the ocean. If on the beach, keep a safe distance from the waves. If a piece of land is dry, there is no guarantee it will stay that way. Walk diagonally on the beach so waves coming in from behind can be seen, and be ready to act fast as waves can come in rapidly and those in their path must react quickly.

• • Please be aware that shore birds may be seeking refuge in areas above the tide line, so do not flush them out in the process of observing the tides.

The National Weather Service has information more about sneaker waves, high surf and other dangers that can be found at weather.gov/safety/ripcurrent-waves.

The King Tides will be active on Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5 and will return again Saturday, January 1 through Monday, January 3. On Sunday, January 2, Friends of the Arcata Marsh will offer a King Tide Tour at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary at 11 a.m. For more information on the upcoming tour, please call (707) 826-2359.

For more information about King Tides and sea level rise in Arcata, please contact the Community Development Department at (707) 822-5955.