King Tides exceeding 16 feet will return to Olympia this weekend. Here’s what to know

Especially high tides are expected to return to western Washington this weekend, the first King Tides of the season. With Olympia seeing the strongest effects, here’s what you need to know.

King Tides expected in Olympia

The University of Washington’s College of the Environment maintains a calendar of expected King Tides in the state, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predictions. According to the dashboard, Olympia will see the highest tides of the 10 monitored areas in the state, with tides reaching over 16 feet starting this Sunday.

High tide on Sunday, Nov. 17, is expected at 7:15 a.m., reaching 16.2 feet. The following day will see tides of 16.3, peaking just after 8 a.m. Then Tuesday, the final day of King Tides this month, will see 16-foot tides that peak just after 9 a.m.

Tides were high over the entire weekend. High tide on Saturday hit 15.5 feet, while Friday’s tides approached 15.8 feet, according to NOAA.

Flooding is possible in low coastal areas, so be sure to keep an eye out for a National Weather Service’s warning or advisory, which can be found on the NWS website.

Farther north, Tacoma is supposed to see tides just over 13 feet on Sunday and Monday, before they fall slightly to 12.9 on Tuesday. Seattle will see slightly lower tides, peaking at 12.6 feet Sunday and Monday.

King Tides are expected to return two more times this season: Dec. 15 through Dec. 17 and Jan. 4 through Jan. 6.

King Tide safety tips

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, if you’re on the coast during King Tides, you should stay farther away from the water than you think you need to. You should avoid logs or loose objects, make sure you’re familiar with ways to leave the beach should you need to, and never turn your back to the water.

What causes King Tides?

Tides are affected by the gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun on Earth. Since the Earth orbits the sun over the course of a year, and the moon orbits the Earth, the direction of their respective gravitational pulls aren’t usually aligned. When the two are aligned, their effects on Earth compound, making tides higher than usual. These effects are even more pronounced when either celestial body is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit.

This story was originally published November 16, 2024 at 5:00 AM.