The last of the so-called “king tides” of the season hit the Oregon coast Saturday just in time for the new year.
In Oregon, king tides occur three months in the winter and three times during the summer when the Earth, moon and sun align to produce the highest tides of the year – ranging from 8-10 feet on the central Oregon coast.
The winter’s king tides are 2-3 feet higher than tides during the quieter summer months, and can generate even larger waves if there’s a storm.
The first king tides of the season were Nov. 5-7 and then Dec. 3-5.
Now they kick off the new year starting at 10:40 a.m. Saturday, 11:35 a.m. Sunday and 12:29 p.m. Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s official tide tables for Waldport.
Minus tides during the same period range from minus 0.42 on Saturday to minus 1.14 on Monday, according to NOAA.
As word gets out about king tides they are drawing more visitors to the coast to see the big, crashing waves. In Yachats, Smelt Sands Beach State Park on the north edge of town is an especially popular viewing spot because of the jagged basalt rocks that make up the shoreline and create big splashes when waves hit.
“It’s like watching fireworks,” said Terry Sousa of Newport, who drove down to Yachats with two friends in early December to see the big waves. “This is my first experience, even though I live here.”
Tony and Kim Hernandez of Eugene like to come to the coast regularly to take pictures and videos of the ocean and beach scenes – including the king tides.
“This is pretty much our favorite spot,” Tony Hernandez said of his perch overlooking the rocks at Smelt Sands Beach in December. “It’s a great excuse to come over here … and then we take them home and go ‘Ooh and aah’.”
