When are the next king tides?

The next king tide window is October 25-30, 2026 for the US Southeast and October 27-31 for the Gulf Coast. The West Coast series follows November 25-27, 2026, then December 22-26, 2026, and January 21-27, 2027.

A king tide is an especially large spring tide that happens when the moon is at its closest approach to Earth (perigee) at the same time as a new or full moon. The combined gravitational pull pushes tides higher than usual, a few times per year at any given location.

Are king tides dangerous?

They can be. King tides flood low-lying streets and parking lots even without storms, and on the West Coast they pair with winter surf that produces sneaker waves. Watch from high ground, stay off jetties and beaches at the peak, never turn your back on the ocean, and keep kids and pets well back.

How high do king tides get?

It varies by location. Standouts for 2026-2027 include La Push, Washington at about 11.0 feet above MLLW on December 24, 2026, and Brunswick, Georgia at about 9.6 feet on October 27, 2026. Check your local tide chart for exact predicted heights.

Where is the best place to watch king tides?

Rocky headlands and elevated viewpoints: the Oregon coast (Newport, Coos Bay), Washington's outer coast (Neah Bay, La Push), and high-ground overlooks anywhere. Avoid low beaches at the peak of the tide.

Simple Tides / Guides / King Tides 2026–2027

King Tides 2026–2027: Dates & Viewing Guide

The next king tide window opens October 25–30, 2026 on the Southeast coast — the highest tides of the year, predictable weeks in advance. Here are the 2026–2027 dates for every US coast, the best places to watch, and how to stay safe.

What a king tide is

A king tide is an especially large spring tide: the moon at its closest approach to Earth (perigee) lines up with a new or full moon, and the combined pull stacks the tide higher than usual — a few times a year at any given spot. They’re the tides that flood low-lying streets on otherwise sunny days. For the full explainer, see what a king tide is.

2026–2027 king tide dates by coast

Dates below are the peak windows compiled from NOAA-station-based king tide calendars. Exact peak days shift slightly by location — check your local tide chart for precise heights.

Coast	King tide windows	Notable peak
Southeast US	Oct 25–30, 2026 · Nov 25–27, 2026 · Dec 24–25, 2026	Brunswick, GA — Oct 27, ~9.6 ft
Gulf Coast	Oct 27–31, 2026 · Nov 24–27, 2026 · Dec 23, 2026	—
Pacific (CA/OR/WA)	Nov 25–27, 2026 · Dec 22–26, 2026 · Jan 21–27, 2027	La Push, WA — Dec 24, ~11.0 ft
California	Nov 24–26, 2026 · Dec 23–25, 2026 · Jan 21–22, 2027	LA Harbor — ~7.1–7.3 ft

This winter’s series has an extra kick: forecasters expect a strong El Niño, and a Kelvin wave moving across the Pacific can lift coastal sea levels several inches — king tides stacked on top of that get dramatic, and get photographed.

Best places to watch

Rocky headlands and elevated viewpoints beat low beaches — you see the scale without standing in it. Good bets on our tide charts:

Pacific Northwest: Newport, OR, Neah Bay, WA, Friday Harbor, WA
California: Long Beach, San Diego
Southeast: Hilton Head, SC, Nags Head (Outer Banks), NC, Savannah, GA, Nantucket, MA, Montauk, NY, Bar Harbor, ME
Gulf: Destin, FL, Panama City Beach, FL, Port Aransas, TX, South Padre Island, TX

Safety: read this before you go

King tides are predictable, but the ocean around them isn’t. On the West Coast they arrive with winter surf, and sneaker waves can run far up the beach without warning.

Watch from high ground — headlands, overlooks, upper beach stairs.
Stay off jetties, rock outcroppings, and low beaches at the peak of the tide.
Never turn your back on the ocean.
Keep kids and pets well back from the waterline.
In towns: don’t drive through saltwater-flooded streets — it wrecks cars.

Make a day of it

The Oregon King Tides Project invites the public to photograph the tides (2026–27 dates: Nov 23–27, Dec 22–26, Jan 20–24) — your photos help scientists track sea-level rise. Going out to watch? Our beach gear essentials and tide watches guides cover what to bring.