SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — King tides are expected to hit San Diego County's coastline starting this weekend.
The high tide event is forecasted to begin Sunday, Nov. 15, and last through Monday, Nov. 16, according to the California King Tides Project. Another round of king tides is also expected next month from Dec. 13 through Dec. 15.
High tide is set to steadily rise through the weekend, with Friday's high tide reaching 6.9 feet ahead of Saturday's 7.3-foot high tide. Sunday and Monday will see high tide reach 7.5 feet, before gradually decreasing through the remainder of the week, according to Tide Forecast.
FORECAST: Latest 10News weather forecast for San Diego County
"King tide" is the term used to refer to the natural occurrence of higher than normal tide caused by the alignment of the gravitational pull between the sun, moon, and Earth. While the tide event isn't an everyday occurrence, it is a natural one.
According to the California King Tides Project, king tides are generally the highest tides of the year. The group says that understanding king tides help plan for higher sea levels in the future, though the event is not caused by a rise in sea levels.
"King Tides are the highest high tides of the year, about a foot or two higher than average tides, which corresponds to the one to two foot rise in sea level expected during the next few decades. When you observe the King Tides, imagine seeing these tides (and the associated flooded streets, beaches, and wetlands) almost daily," according to the group.
While the event has the ability to produce lively imagery of tide crashing onshore, beach-goers are warned to be careful when near the shoreline, especially if they're near an area prone to erosion.
Coastal flooding, affecting businesses and residences, can also occur during these high tide events.
