King tides expected in South Puget Sound on Jan. 4-6

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. - Washingtonians are being warned about the next king tides, expected to hit South Puget Sound on January 4-6.

In Thurston County, king tides peak in late December and early January. A king tide is when a tide is extremely high, caused by an amplified gravitational pull between the Earth and moon.

The Thurston Conservation District expects high tides at the following times:

• Jan. 4 (9:17 a.m. – 16.5 feet)
• Jan. 5: (9:51 a.m. – 16.5 feet)
• Jan. 6: (10:26 a.m. – 16.5 feet)

King tides coupled with high levels of precipitation can result in flooding and property damage.

The rising ocean levels serve as both a natural display and a warning about the realities of climate change and its long-term challenges.

"For many residents of South Puget Sound, daily changes in tidal elevation help us decide when to head out for a beach walk, plan a kayak trip, or even harvest shellfish," the Thurston Conservation District said.

Learn more about king tides on the University of Washington website.

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