Recently, the U.S. coasts have experienced significant flooding due to king tides, which have inundated areas in California, Florida, and the Carolinas. These unusually high tides have caused seawater to flow into streets, homes, and businesses, creating a challenging situation for residents in beach communities.
King tides typically occur a few times a year, often coinciding with the full moon. They are influenced by the gravitational pull of the Earth, moon, and sun, and can last for several days. This week’s king tides have been especially notable due to additional contributing factors, which have heightened their impact.
In Florida, a strong high-pressure system to the north combined with low pressure over the Caribbean has resulted in increased ocean swells, according to Chris Fisher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. Meanwhile, in California, an ongoing super El Niño has warmed ocean temperatures, increasing seawater volume. Roger Gass, a meteorologist from the Bay Area forecast office, noted that Kelvin waves—a series of warm water pulses—have further elevated sea levels.
The effects of this week’s king tides have been striking. Residents found themselves facing the ocean without needing to visit the beach, as the water pushed inland. In Southern California, for example, Stacey Frederick documented people walking through knee-deep water and even paddleboarding along the Pacific Coast Highway, which had to close in some areas due to flooding.
Frederick, who has lived in Huntington Beach for five years, remarked on the unusual severity of this flooding. “It floods a little bit, but never to this point,” she said. Record high tides were recorded in several locations including Santa Barbara, San Pedro, and San Diego.
In Sunset Beach, Lorraine Friedman, who has lived in her seaside apartment for nearly thirty years, faced flooding for the second time in two days. She expressed her frustration, stating, “This is the second day I’ve been flooded, and tomorrow I’ll get flooded again.”
The weather service expects minor flooding to continue in low-lying areas along Northern California’s shores through Saturday, particularly during peak high tides that are currently 1.9 feet above normal levels. Similarly, Florida’s Atlantic coast was under flood warnings, with street flooding reported in South Carolina cities like Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
Fisher cautioned that beach conditions have been rough, with high risks of rip currents and turbulent surf, making it advisable for people to stay away from the water. In Fort Lauderdale, attending the world’s largest in-water boat show became a challenge as attendees had to navigate through flooded streets next to marinas and hotels. Virginia Key, a barrier island in Miami, recorded its highest king tide in three decades, a level only surpassed during hurricanes.
These events underscore the growing impact of climate phenomena like king tides, and the importance of preparedness and awareness in coastal communities. It’s a reminder that while king tides are a natural occurrence, their effects can be exacerbated by climate change and other environmental factors.
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Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia.
