California’s coastline has already taken a beating in 2026. Now, the highest tides of the year are coming — and they’ll arrive as El Niño continues to hammer the coast.
King Tides aren’t storms. They’re the year’s highest predictable high tides, produced when the gravitational pull of the sun, moon and Earth lines up, especially when the moon is closest to Earth. The California Coastal Commission notes they can run roughly one to two feet above ordinary high tides; when they overlap with swell, storm surge or flooding, the impacts can become much more severe.
Video from Cannon Beach, Oregon, shows what that combination can look like: waves charging far higher up the beach than normal, swallowing shoreline and turning familiar coastal terrain into moving water. Past King Tides there have prompted officials to warn beachgoers about sneaker waves surging much farther inland than expected.
When Are California’s King Tides Coming?
- November 24-26, 2026
- December 23-25, 2026
- January 21-22, 2027
Some Northern California locations also include December 22, January 20 and January 23. Exact heights vary by location. At Los Angeles Harbor, published tide tables show highs around 7.1-7.2 feet during the November event, roughly 7.2-7.3 feet around Christmas, and about 7.1 feet on January 21-22.
Related: What Is a Kelvin Wave? And What Does It Mean for California Surf?
Those numbers matter more this year.
Southern California has already seen exceptional coastal destruction from Hurricane Marie, part deux. It brought powerful south swell, damaged homes, stripped beaches of sand, and local emergencies were declared in Laguna Beach, Dana Point and Carlsbad.
King Tides can only enhance the bedlam.
Here’s what a King Tide sneaker wave looks like in Oregon:
And another problem is approaching. NOAA scientists are tracking an El Niño-driven Kelvin wave — a broad pulse of warm water that can travel thousands of miles and elevate coastal sea levels. NOAA says these waves can produce sea-level increases of about six inches, while scientists expect stronger impacts along the West Coast this fall and winter.
The Coastal Commission is also warning that the 2026-27 El Niño could become historically strong. Stay tuned; batten down the hatches.
Related: The 1983 El Niño Destroyed California’s Coast — Could It Happen Again? (Video)
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