Record-Breaking King Tides Flood Low Lying Areas of King Salmon, Fields Landing, and Eureka
The Falafelove restaurant in King Salmon has salt water pooled around its base as the tide reached near-record levels. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
Water extends beneath the highway bridge near the Eureka bayfront. Normally dry trail areas and vegetation were submerged during the extreme high tide. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
Kidwell said tides are expected to be even higher on Saturday, with another morning high tide combined with strengthening winds likely to push water levels beyond Friday’s record.
A stranded crab meets the water’s end at Field’s Landing. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
The Bracut Marsh at around 9:53 a.m. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
Fields Landing:
A fisherman pulls his boat through flooding at the Jimmy Smith Dock in Fields Landing during today’s King Tide. The parking lot leading to the dock was submerged, making the area appear as though it had become part of Humboldt Bay as tidal waters spread inland. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
Extreme tides are affecting infrastructure along the Bay, even in areas accustomed to high water during winter storms.
King Salmon:
Flooding surrounds Gill’s by the Bay this morning. [Photo by Katrina Russell]
The view from Gill’s.[Photo by Katrina Russell]
Flooding spreads through King Salmon as Humboldt Bay reaches near-record water levels. The inundation occurred ahead of even higher tides forecast later in the week. [Photo by Katrina Russell]
Bayfront Trail:
The Bay is cozying up to the Bayfront Trail behind Target. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
[Video by Ryan Hutson]
Based on the nearby measurement pole, water levels rose to nearly 9.9 feet, leaving sections of the trail completely impassable.
A nearby blue water-level pole next to the flooded Bayfront Trail behind Target in Eureka this morning shows water nearing 9.9 feet taken at 10:14 a.m., a level reporter Ryan Hutson said she has never seen before, even during strong storms. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
“It’s particularly bad to drive through salt water, as it can damage your vehicle,” he said. He also warned that driving through flooded areas can be dangerous, even when water appears shallow.
Forecasters urge residents in flood-prone coastal areas to avoid flooded roads and other areas and to continue monitoring tide and weather updates as King Tides peak again on Saturday.
Water extends beneath the highway bridge near the Eureka Bayfront. Normally dry trail areas and vegetation were submerged during the extreme high tide. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]
- King Salmon Flooding Seen During Thursday Morning High Tide, Higher Tides Expected
- Yesterday, Fourth-Highest Tide Ever Recorded at Humboldt Bay, Coastal Flood Warning Issued for Friday and Saturday
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Bet this has never happened before in the winter when flooding coincides with Southerly winds pushing water in Bay teams up with high tides like the King tides. Well yes it has- multiple times and to be expected.
Doesn’t “record breaking” literally mean it has never happened this bad before?
Yes it does, but the right conditions must occur. Example: 1964 Flood probably broke some record? … and that was before Global Warming or Climate Change was invented. On another note since you are here… you gonna let that comment on the PG&E story stand? The implied threat about Luigi’ing PG&E people? That conforms to your commenting rules?
I’m working solo on a day with flooding and now with a major fire And I’m still trying to make payroll. I just managed to get to your comment. But I did delete that comment hours ago along with several others and put that commenter on moderation.
But sometimes you have to have a little patience. We don’t have automated software that sorts through comments. It’s done by hand.
Figured as much and completely understand. By the way, Ernie Lampella (he was the model for the statue outside new Eureka boat-basin or maybe it was Hobart made that assertion?) He lived in the house on Gunther Island that I think Nancy Flemming owns now- anyway Ernie related that the big tides coinciding with Southerly winds and flooding used to and can make for situations like that occurring. In the north Bay the southerly winds blow water there with the tides and run into flood or high waters from Freshwater – hence a high water gauge at Target site. Those old sloughs need some work to prevent disaster.
Nope…
It only means that it hasn’t happened this bad since records began in the late 70’s…
“The gauge was installed in the late 1970s, making Friday’s tide the highest ever measured [since then] at that location.”
It could easily have been worse, prior to the late 70’s, before the measuring device was installed….
This is the “highest tide ever recorded,”. That is since the gauge was installed at the North Jetty in the1970’s. That’s not saying much when you look at the big picture.
Does anyone know by how much the tide has exceeded the previous record?
Wet is wet. I feel sorry for the poor folks that are suffering these obvious losses. However, I’m am sure these tides are not any surprise.
Lifting a building is not that much of a problem. In Garberville a lot of buildings have been lifted and moved over a hundred yards and turned around, back in the early history of the town. The major and imposible problem is Government permits.
A good example would be the fire in Los Angeles. The only thing stopping rebuilding is the permits.
Gil’s has been hammered multiple times. Ernie, I think that particular area in King Salmon was made of fill from the jetty. Likely King Salmon. I’m betting because it’s spoils or fill it has also sunk? Ever hear any talk or info about the land sinking there?
Yes, posted previously…
“the community of King Salmon, California, was built on dredge spoils (often referred to as dredge tailings).
The development of the town followed this historical timeline:
Historically, the King Salmon area also includes Buhne Point, where Captain Hans Buhne landed in 1850. The point itself has experienced significant erosion over the decades—losing approximately 1,480 feet of shoreline between the 1890s and 1950s—which eventually necessitated the rock slope protection that now helps shield the community.”
The previous highest was 9.98 Dec 31, 2005 according to Kidwell.
Microscopic differences. Fortunately. Still, wet.
It would stand to reason that the tides in Humboldt Bay were most likely higher during the historic 1964 December flood, which also coincided with the highest of the year King tide…
This would have been 10+ years prior to records being kept at the merely 50 year old north spit gauge…
For the first time ever I saw the water from the Mad River Slough, at the old mill near Manila, creep out on to Hwy 255.
I just adore people who think they’re smart. Maybe just happy.