Astronomical tides are expected to boost the sea level to approximatley 8.4' this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.The peaks are expected between around 10 a.m. and noon Saturday and continuing through Monday, according to Eureka meteorologist Alex Dodd. He added the king tides will receive a boost from a storm system that is expected to arrive Friday.He said with the aid of the storm system, the waters could rise closer to 9 feet, which could potentially spur a flood warning for low-lying areas.The California Coastal Commission, which operates the California King Tides Project, states the events provide “a glimpse of what to expect as sea levels rise.”A similar photo project is done locally by Humboldt Baykeeper.“That will be the monthly high tide in 10 years,” Humboldt Baykeeper director Jennifer Kalt said of king tides. “… If we saw those levels of high tides once a month .. in 20 years, this is going to be a real nuisance.”She noted that the king tides locally are about a foot higher than normal high tides.“The projection is that in the Humboldt Bay area, sea level will rise 1 foot by 2030,” she said.Kalt said that in 10 years, U.S. Highway 101 north of the Eureka slough will flood on a monthly basis.To find out more about participating in the California King Tides Project, go to https://www.coastal.ca.gov/kingtides/ participate.html. To contribute photos to Humboldt Baykeeper, email images to KingTidePhotos@gmail.com.Read more
