‘Dramatic’ king tides return to Washington soon. Here’s when – and what to know
King tides are expected to hit parts of Washington state, including Olympia and Bellingham.
The unusually high tides are a “dramatic feature of Washington winters,” Washington Sea Grant said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The tides can provide “a great opportunity to learn about coastal flooding, envision future shorelines and otherwise just admire the beauty and power of nature,” the marine research and education group said in the post.
They can also lead to flooding and pose a safety risk.
Here’s what to know:
What are king tides?
The term “king tides” isn’t scientific. Instead, it’s a more informal way to describe tides that are extremely high.
“Ordinary tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the earth and the moon,” Washington Sea Grant, which is based at the University of Washington, said on its website. “King tides happen when astronomical events amplify that pull.”
That includes when the moon is new or full and is closest to earth, which is more common, the group said, as well as when the sun is closest to earth, which happens in early January.
When will king tides hit Olympia?
This month’s highest king tides in Olympia are predicted to be Saturday, Dec. 6, through Monday, Dec. 8, according to Washington Sea Grant.
High tide on Saturday, Dec. 6, is expected at 7:25 a.m., reaching 16.7 feet, the group said.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, high tide is expected at 8:14 a.m., reaching 16.7 feet, according to Washington Sea Grant’s king tide calendar.
The tide is expected to hit its highest point on Monday, Dec. 8, at 9:02 a.m., reaching 16.6 feet.
Tuesday, Dec. 9, is expected to see a high tide exceeding 16 feet, Washington Sea Grant said.
The organization is holding a free king tide viewing party from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. that day at Olympia’s Percival Landing Park.
The peak of the king tide is expected around 9 a.m., the group said.
Low-lying areas near downtown are vulnerable to flooding during king tides, the Olympia city website said.
City officials recommend signing up for community alerts and email updates, keeping an eye on official social media accounts and having a plan for your family and/or business if flooding happens, per the website.
What about Bellingham? Other parts of Washington?
Among the 10 communities on Washington Sea Grant’s king tide calendar, Olympia is expected to have the highest tides.
King tides are expected to hit Bellingham on Saturday, Dec. 6, through Monday, Dec. 8.
The predicted high tides in that city are 9.8 to 9.9 feet, depending on the day.
Dungeness, Ilwaco, La Push, Port Townsend, Seattle, Shelton, South Bend and Westport also are on the calendar.
How to stay safe around high ocean waves
If you’re near the ocean during king tides, pay attention to your surroundings, Washington Sea Grant said.
Keep an eye on the weather, obey safety signs, keep behind guard rails and “always stay a safe distance away from waves,” the group said on its website, adding that you should “never turn your back on the ocean.”
Aaron Webster, an interpretive specialist at Cape Disappointment State Park in the Ilwaco area, stressed the importance of watching out for sneaker waves during king tides.
“Sneaker waves are much bigger than normal waves and they ‘sneak up on you’ because they are infrequent. You might see 10 or 20 minutes of ‘regular’ waves and then all of the sudden — WHAM — here comes a double-size wave that washes all the way up the beach, carrying driftwood logs and other dangers,” Webster wrote in a December 2024 blog post.
“For the best wave watching experience, follow the weather and wave forecasts and look for a day when big waves, high tides and sunny skies combine,” Webster added.
When are January king tides in Washington?
King tides are predicted to return to Washington between Friday, Jan. 2, and Tuesday, Jan. 6, depending on the location.
In Olympia, the highest January king tides are expected Sunday, Jan. 4, through Tuesday, Jan. 6.
They’re predicted to reach 16.7 to 16.8 feet, according to the king tides calendar.
In Bellingham, the highest January king tides are expected Saturday, Jan. 3, through Monday, Jan. 5. They’re predicted to reach 9.8 to 9.9 feet, per the calendar.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘Dramatic’ king tides return to Washington soon. Here’s when – and what to know."
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