King Tide Time of Year

Each year around the winter solstice we experience the highest tides of the year. These king tides occur when the orbits and alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun combine. Add a severe winter storm with low atmospheric pressure during one of these high tide events, and you get a recipe for coastal flooding. Low areas around Birch Bay and Terrell Creek are prone to flooding during king tides events. In additional to planning ahead to prepare for possible coastal flooding, you can be a citizen scientist and help document these high tide events. Learn more at the Washington State Department of Ecology's king tide webpage and the EPA's king tide webpage.