King tides return November 24 to 26, and the state says El Niño could push water higher

By The Downspout · Posted Oct 26, 2026 · 3 min read

The California Coastal Commission lists the year's highest predicted tides for November 24 to 26, December 23 to 25 and January 21 to 22, 2027. It warns that the El Niño expected this winter, and short-term sea-level rises, can push actual water higher than the predictions.

Listen to this article

Read aloud by an AI voice.

What king tides are and which dates

King tides are the highest predicted tides of the year. They come from the positions of the Earth, moon and sun. The California Coastal Commission runs a King Tides Project. It asks people to photograph the shoreline on those days, safely, to show what high water does to the coast as sea level rises.

The statewide dates this season are:

November 24 to 26, 2026.
December 23 to 25, 2026.
January 21 to 22, 2027.

The Commission says Northern California locations may also see December 22, January 20 or January 23. Dates and times depend on where you are. Its King Tides Project page has a tide map with local dates and times. Check it for the Sonoma County coast or bay shoreline you care about. The page we read gives dates, not heights.

What it means for you

If you visit the shore on a king tide day, check the tide map for your spot first. The Commission asks you not to seek king tide photos unless you can do so safely.
Follow local warnings. The Commission says to heed emergency closures and warnings during and after storms and high surf. It also asks you not to disturb shorebirds and other animals, which may be much farther upland than usual.
If a road is flooded, do not drive through it. The Governor's office says the water can be deeper and faster than it looks. Turn around and find another route.
The Governor's office advises signing up for emergency alerts from your city or county, and having an evacuation plan.
If you want to see tide pools, the Commission notes that king tide days also bring extreme low tides, and it links to tips on protecting tide pool animals.

For more on what El Niño could mean here, see our El Niño page.

Why the water could run higher than predicted

El Niño is a warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean that often brings more storms to California. The Commission says scientists anticipate a historically strong one this winter, sometimes called a “super” El Niño.

The Commission's page also names Kelvin waves. These are waves that cause a temporary rise in sea level. The Governor's office said on October 9, 2026 that Kelvin waves have already raised sea levels this year. It also said strong waves from hurricanes offshore in the Pacific have caused coastal flooding that scientists link to El Niño.

The Commission says the king tide dates are predictions from the Earth, moon and sun only. They do not include storms or El Niño. So actual water heights can exceed the predictions. It lists landslides, flooding and unsafe ocean waters as dangers.

Sonoma County has declared an emergency over the developing El Niño. The Board of Supervisors did so on October 6, 2026. The county release says forecasters say there is a 75 percent chance El Niño could reach historic levels this winter.

What happens next

The Commission says it will post community events throughout the season. None are listed for Sonoma County on the page we read.

Where this came from

The California King Tides Project page of the California Coastal Commission, the Governor's October 9, 2026 El Niño preparation release, and the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management release of October 6, 2026.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-26. Rules and programs change. If something here is out of date, the source above wins. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.