king tides

King tides and winter runoff push Petaluma River to highest recorded level in decades

Don Frances, BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

An extraordinarily strong bout of seasonal king tides and runoff from the latest rainstorm combined Friday to push the crest of the Petaluma River to the highest point in nearly the last three decades even as bay tides unleashed flooding in Marin County and other parts of the Bay Area before a weekend of rain and high winds.

The Petaluma River, one of Sonoma County’s largest tidal sloughs, had not topped its banks, but water levels surged to 8.33 feet by 1 p.m. Friday, according to a National Weather Service gauge at the D Street Bridge, where the previous recorded high was 6.4 feet in 1998.

The new record was likely to be broken again by late morning Saturday as the king tides were expected to peak amid the incoming rainstorm, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy.

Read more at https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/01/02/king-tides-and-winter-runoff-push-petaluma-river-to-highest-recorded-level-in-decades/

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Catch the winter King Tides!

King Tides Project, CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION

Mark Your Calendars! California King Tides Project logo

The California King Tides dates are:

  • November 24, 25, and 26, 2015
  • December 22, 23, and 24, 2015
  • January 21 and 22, 2016

Check out this map of tide times and locations across California and read more about how to take and share your photos of King Tides.

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The California King Tides Project helps people visualize how sea level rise will impact their lives. Via smartphones and social media, we invite everyone to document the highest high tides of today, which will be the average water levels of the future.
It’s easy to participate. Just pick a location, grab a camera or smartphone, and share your photos. Photos will be used to support citizen science efforts, to communicate about the effects of flooding today, and to spread awareness about the importance of protecting communities in the future.

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Join a local event! Click to see just a few of the get-togethers happening around King Tides. Check these out, or join with a local organization to plan your own!
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