King Tides bring beach-goers to area beaches

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM)-King Tides are expected to bring abnormally high tides to the North Coast, according to The National Weather Service.

Many flocked to area beaches to take a look at the large waves.

According to the National Weather Service – high astronomical tide coupled with a half foot tidal anomaly was expected to cause minor coastal flooding in the Arcata Bottoms and King Salmon areas during high tide today.

The abnormally high tides could cause saltwater inundation of low-lying locations not normally over-powered along Humboldt Bay at high tide.

Tides are expected to peak nearly nine feet at the north spit tide gauge.

King tides are caused by strong gravitational pulls from the moon and sun, with the earth.

Something tourist Elan Ebeling says, she’s never seen before.

“I was just like I’m just going to go to the beach today, and I was wondering if it’s always like this, but I thought the waves looked pretty high, and I was standing there  and all of sudden one was already at my feet, I didn’t even know where it came from,” she said. “So, yeah, it’s interesting to hear this is bigger than normal.”

According to the Coast Guard, winter is an especially dangerous time on North Coast beaches,

Sneaker waves can catch unassuming beach goers by surprise – they urge those walking along any beach in our region – to never turn their back to the ocean.