There will soon be “King Tides”! The next King Tide event will be held in the Bay Area from November 15th to 17th. King Tides, which are also called Spring Tides, happen naturally and can be predicted because of how the sun, moon, and Earth are lined up.
Tides are long-period waves that roll around the planet as the ocean is “pulled” back and forth by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun as these bodies interact with the Earth in their monthly and yearly orbits,” according to NOAA.
Peak tides happen when the Moon is closest to Earth (called “perigee”), during a new or full moon, and when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth.
The King Tide event is happening this month because the Full Beaver Moon and the perigee happen at the same time.
Some of the highest and lowest tides of the year will happen at this time, making the shoreline even more dramatic. When King Tides happen during floods or storms, the water level can rise higher, which can do a lot of damage to property along the coast.
Scientists study these King Tide events to get a better idea of what sea level rise will be like in the future and how it will affect towns along the coast.
Low tide is a great time to check out tide pools that are only visible a few times a year during King Tide events.
Visit NOAA’s webpage to find out when the tides are in your area. This page from NOAA also has great tide pool spots in the Bay Area.
