A flood advisory and coastal flooding warnings are in effect across parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Coast as ‘king tides’, combined with heavy rain and storm surge, push water levels to near‑record heights and cause flooding in low‑lying areas, NBC Bay Area reported.
The Weather Service (NWS) has issued a coastal flood warning for the San Francisco Bay shoreline and a coastal flood advisory for the Pacific Coast and Monterey Bay, warning of possible inundation through Sunday. Up to 2.5 feet of water above ground level is possible in some shoreline communities, with isolated road closures likely in low‑lying areas near tidal waterways, officials said.
On Saturday, parts of the region saw significantly elevated waters. In San Francisco, high tides reached approximately 2.56 feet above normal, marking one of the highest tidal levels in more than two decades, according to the NWS.
What are ‘king tides’?
King tides are being driven by a rare astronomical alignment, when the sun and moon’s gravitational forces combine at their strongest, coinciding with a storm system bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the Bay Area. These conditions have created a “perfect storm” for coastal flooding, meteorologists have said, according to The Almanac.
How are nearby areas affected?
In Marin County and neighbouring communities, rising waters have flooded streets, parks and other low‑lying areas. Roads in Corte Madera, including parts of Lucky Drive and Fifer Avenue, remain closed due to inundation, and flooding has also been reported in Larkspur and other nearby areas, ABC7 San Francisco reported.
Elsewhere around the Bay Area, floodwaters have affected sections of San Francisco’s Embarcadero, leading to traffic detours, while other low‑lying shoreline neighbourhoods experienced water rising onto normally dry surfaces. Authorities have urged residents to avoid driving through flooded roads and remain cautious until water levels recede.
The NWS forecast calls for continued rain and gusty winds in the coming days, with additional rain expected through at least Monday, increasing inland flooding risks.