PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – People around the Pacific Northwest are being surprised by active king tides, which continue to fill low-lying areas and bring powerful waves crashing into the ocean.
Photos and videos provided by onlookers in Oregon and Washington this week show crowded streets and people experiencing near misses and waves. Washington resident Tony Valente told KOIN 6 News that he shot a wave that hit a group of onlookers at Nelscott Beach during high tide in Lincoln City Saturday.
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Photographs of storm chasers closely monitoring Oregon’s king tides in Lincoln City on January 14, 2024. (Tony Valente)
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“Everybody made sure to go back a long way,” Valente said. “I saw the wave coming very quickly and I was lucky enough to have an honest camera on fire. The best part, apart from the photos, I was bone dry afterwards. Never play with King tides.”
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King tide breaks in the jet in Ocean Shores Wash. on December 14, 2024, when drivers check in the parking lot. (Photos by Skip Radcliffe)
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Various photos taken from around the Pacific Northwest show flooding in Cutler City, Nehalem and Tokeland Wash. Buttercup Ice Creams & Chowders in Nehalem shared a heartbreaking video with KOIN 6 News showing an employee kayaking through crowded streets.
“We are open today,” the company shared on social media on Saturday. “Make sure to bring your shoes!”
A family wades through king tide flooding in Nehalem, Ore. December 14, 2024. (Catherine Earp)
Seasonal tides occur when the sun and moon align and increase the gravitational force on Earth. Gravity causes the Earth’s oceans to swell. During king tides, tides can exceed their daily averages by six inches or more.
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Beach food seen during high tides in Tokeland, Wash. on December 14, 2024. (Doug Davis)
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Flooding in Cutler City on December 14, 2024. (Lincoln City Police Department)
Climate scientists study these water changes to determine the effects of climate change. West Coast areas most at risk for coastal flooding include Friday Harbor, Wash., Port Angeles, Wash., Toke Point, Wash., South Beach, Ore. and Humboldt Bay, Calif.
The current cycle of king tides will end on December 15 and the final period of the season will be from January 11 to January 13. KOIN 6 News has included a variety of photos and videos of king tides seen from around the Pacific Northwest. the weekend.
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