NewsLocal News

Actions

King Tides coming to Central Coast beaches this week

shell beach tides.jpg
Posted
and last updated

The National Weather Service (NWS) put out a high surf advisory for much of California today due to high tides across the coast called "King Tides".

King Tides are exceptionally high tides that usually occur during a new or full moon when the sun, moon, and earth align.

The gravitational pull of the moon and sun cause these tides to be six feet or higher than normal.

The NWS is warning of waves of 12 to 18 feet with dangerous rip currents along the San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County coasts.

This warning of very high surf and King Tides is in effect on the Central Coast through Tuesday afternoon.

The NWS also warns of minor coastal overflow and flooding Tuesday morning from the Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County all the way down to the Big Sur Coast.

The National Ocean Service projects this will be the last high tide event of the winter.

This high tide also gives scientists ways to look at potential flooding and how to beat it as well as see what the future of rising sea levels could be.