Wave hello to the holidays
King Tides add some fury to the festive season
By Linda Turner Griepentrog
For The TODAY
Visitors come from far and wide to marvel at the beauty of Oregon tides. Sometimes they gently lap at the shoreline, offering a mesmerizing washing of the ever-changing sands. But other times, they can pound with vengeance, causing devastation to not only the beach itself, but also to cherished beach properties and landmarks.
King tides occur three months in a row during the fall and winter. One occurred in November over Thanksgiving weekend and the next will be Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 22 through 24. The last three-day event begins on Friday, Jan. 20.
Coastal residents are familiar with the wild extremes of ocean weather and the wrath of nature’s fury, particularly during king tide season. These exceptionally high tides occur during the full or new moon when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the sun and the sun, moon and Earth are aligned. This phenomenon creates maximum gravitational pull on ocean waters, creating much higher than normal tide surges.
That gravitational pull also produces eerily low minus tides in the 12 hours opposite the king tide peaks.
If the king tide occurrence itself wasn’t enough, high winds and off-shore storms often add to the aggravation, increasing damage potential like serious flooding and erosion. Entire beach areas can be washed out, roads can be under water and favorite ocean viewing sites can be greatly compromised by the fierce wave action. Occasionally homes and businesses are destroyed by the force of the water. Sea walls and other structural supports can be undercut, causing collapse or partial failure — all by the same ocean waves we find so captivating.
King tides happen in coastal communities worldwide and several states and countries have groups dedicated to documenting their occurrence along with damages and landscape changes attributed to the phenomenon.
Photo ops
Photographers of all abilities love to capture the ocean’s beauty, but particularly when conditions are stormy and king tides are present. The Oregon King Tides Project, run by the Oregon Coast Management Program and Coastal Watch, has created an ongoing database to document the state’s king tide phenomenon. Photographers submit more than 400 photos each year in four different categories: normal high tides vs. king tide comparison; coastal erosion; king tide waves; and coastal flooding.
This season, there is a photo contest sponsored by the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, for those categories. Winners will be announced in February.
The Oregon King Tides Project also welcomes photos that don’t fit within these specific contest categories for an ongoing gallery of the effects of wave action on the coastline and rising sea levels. It especially encourages photographers to take images from the same place during a normal high tide, and during a king tide event, as these show the most dramatic comparison of the high-water experience.
Watch carefully
While trying to capture the ultimate photo of king tides can be a challenge, it can also be especially dangerous due to the unpredictable wave action. So, follow these guidelines for the best and safest experience:
Stay back from the waves and above the beach level. Intense tidal action tosses items with fury, and logs and rolling rocks are uncontrollable.
Shoot photos from well-maintained trails and walkways whenever possible and don’t climb down cliffs.
Wear shoes with non-skid soles, as massive waves spray water where it may not usually be found, creating slippery slopes and rocks.
Stay off of jetties or piers, as you might not be above what could wash you away in a heartbeat.
Respect any beach access closures and don’t jump the fence or guardrail for a better shot, as it might be your last.
Don’t drive in flooded areas, as there might be hidden debris that could damage your vehicle.
Always check the tide tables for your local area if you’re looking for the most robust waves. Find tide tables on page 17 or online at www.oregonkingtides.net/participate/tides.
To learn how you can submit photos to the Oregon King Tides Project, to see a gallery of photos submitted since 2010 and for an interactive map that lets you choose your location and ideal times for wave watching peaks, both high and low, go to www.oregonkingtides.net.