BELLINGHAM, Wash. — King tides are making their way across western Washington this week. Researchers say when combined with storms, the tides can exacerbate flooding. However, the king tides can also provide a tool to help understand and educate people about the potential impacts of sea level rise.
Fortunately, weather was calm on Tuesday — meaning the king tides were not a major issue. But they're still something Washington Sea Grant (WSG) was tracking.
King Tides Program Coastal Policy Specialist Bridget Trosin said king tides happen during astronomical events that increase the gravitational pull on oceans.
"It's just a little bit of pull, but it can make the difference between a little extra flooding and not extra flooding, especially in our low-level areas," Trosin said.
During a calm day, it would likely cause subtle differences in water level. The concerns come when other factors are at play — and a king tide can amplify the impacts of a storm.
"That little extra water level we experience from king tides, that's when it can make all the difference," Trosin said. "You already have these really high water levels, you have storm, you have waves, and that king tide will be enough to push it over into someone's home or flooding the streets or really increasing flooding in our low-level areas."
WSG uses the king tides as an educational tool to spread awareness about the potential impacts of sea level rise. When people see the effects king tides can have, it helps them to understand how flooding could increase when water is higher.
"We're trying to plan for sea level rise. We don't want areas to keep flooding- so we're going to have to mitigate, we're going to have to adapt," Trosin said.
WSG offers a king tides calendar to help people know when they will reach each area. It asks people to submit photos via the "MyCoast" app to help show what's happening in their regions. To view the calendar, visit wsg.washington.edu.