Cities are preparing for this year’s series of king tides, which can bring localized flooding in shoreline areas.
King tides, also called perigean tides, occur when the moon is new or full and closest to the Earth. The gravitational pull can significantly increase tide height. In other words, when the moon and the sun align with the Earth, especially when it happens during rainy winter months, streets and other areas flood.
The dates for this winter’s king tides are Nov. 4-8, Dec. 2-7, Dec. 30 and Jan. 1-5.
King tides can bring water over the edge of San Francisco’s Embarcadero, as well as Sausalito’s Marinship neighborhood and sections of U.S. Highway 101 at Mill Valley and Stinson Beach.
According to Marin County’s website, areas of the county where signs of sea level rise have already led to increased tidal flooding include North San Pedro Road through China Camp in unincorporated San Rafael, Greenwood Cove Drive in Tiburon, Lucky Drive in Greenbrae, Redwood Highway at Greenbrae Boardwalk, Marin City, and the Manzanita Park & Ride lot near Tam Junction.
Advice for residents in flood-prone areas includes clearing debris from storm drains and gutters so that built-in systems like storm pumps can work properly. Stock up on sandbags, which are available at hardware stores. Listen to local weather reports and sign up for alerts, and move vehicles and important items to higher locations, if possible. A pantry full of food and extra water is also a good idea and people should never drive through flooded areas.
The Southern Marin Fire Protection District is mailing out a guide and details for obtaining sand for bagging to residents of Mill Valley, Sausalito, Strawberry & Alto, Tam Valley and Tiburon. The guide can also be found online.
Residents are also advised to opt in for Significant Weather Alerts on the AlertMarin.org emergency notification system.
King tides have one scientific benefit. They reveal the impacts of sea level rise due to climate change on cities and environments, providing real-life evidence rather than predictive modeling. Understanding which areas are more vulnerable allows planners and scientists to design more sustainable infrastructures and habitats.
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