Copyright The Oregonian
King tide season is almost here. The exceptionally high tides, which in 2025 will occur in November, December and January, according to the Oregon King Tide Project, are an opportunity for excitement on the Oregon coast, but come with a heavy dose of caution for anyone hoping to see them. Before you pull on your rain gear and head out into the elements, here is everything you need to know about the king tides this year. What is a king tide? Like “supermoon,” the term “king tide” is not scientific. Its closest scientific analog is a perigean spring tide, which occurs a few times a year when the sun and moon are slightly closer to the Earth, resulting in slightly higher and lower tides. The effect is most pronounced during the full or new moon, when the three bodies are aligned. What makes it a king tide is often the temperament of the ocean. In the fall and winter, when higher high tides are accompanied by stormy weather, the effects can be dramatic, with ocean water surging into coastal towns and inundating beaches. (In the summer, when waters are calmer, the spring tides are good opportunities for low tide adventures on the coast.) When are the king tides coming? The tides will swell three times this season: Nov. 5-7, Dec. 4-6 and Jan. 1-4. Those dates all align with the full moon, including two “supermoons” in November and December. How high will the high tides get? Exact tide levels differ up and down the coastline. To get a better idea of the swing, it’s helpful to look at how tides change throughout the year at a single location. At South Beach in Newport, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting tides above 10 feet during king tide season — the first time since January that tides have crested that high. For comparison, the typical high tide at South Beach over the summer was between seven and nine feet. The highest high tides of the year will be Dec. 5, according to NOAA, when water levels will reach 10.57 feet at South Beach. Should you go out to see them? Storm watching on the Oregon coast can be a thrilling experience, as big waves crash dramatically against the rocky shoreline. At places like Depoe Bay and Cape Perpetua, the surf surges through narrow chasms called spouting horns that shoot water high into the air. Spots like Shore Acres and Cape Disappointment have massive rocks that create the perfect environment for spectacular photos of crashing waves. The trade-off is the prospect of getting soaked (primarily from the rain) and risking serious injury or death on beaches or storm watching spots along the coastline. Waves can travel upwards of 25 miles an hour, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department warned, and each cubic yard of water can weigh up to a ton. What do you need to do to stay safe? State park officials urge people to stay off jetties and away from cliff edges during king tides. Trails and beaches that might normally be safe could become dangerous, even if nearby parking lots are OK. Sneaker waves, which are more common in the fall and winter, can sweep beachgoers off their feet and can easily roll large logs across the sand. The best places to do storm watching will always be spots with higher vantage points, behind protective fences or barriers. Keep an eye on the tide tables and heed all warnings issued by local officials.
