High tides are expected to swell to around 9 feet this week, potentially increasing the risk for coastal flooding and sneaker wave impacts along the North Coast.Wood said that coastal communities like the Arcata Bottoms and King Salmon may experience flooding, but he said that northerly winds will most likely abate some potential flooding in waterways off the bay. Nevertheless, Wood said, tides are predicted to be inordinately high.“… Tides are verifying about half a foot higher than what’s being forecast,” Wood said. “It’s a positive anomaly; we calculate that into our estimation for tides we could start seeing with this around a half a foot anomaly, and that’s … with northerly winds. Normally, winds can slightly suppress tides around into the Humboldt Bay, so the title normally may increase slightly with total flooding risk starting as early as Wednesday.”Wood said that the area around Jackson Ranch Road in Arcata would likely see localized flooding, as would coastal communities like King Salmon.The Friends of the Arcata Marsh are hosting their annual “King Tide Tour” this week on Friday, Dec. 5. Participants are encouraged to wear waterproof clothing on the tour as hosts explain what makes the tides so much higher than normal, describe the increases expected as sea level rises and discuss what will happen to Humboldt Bay as the rest of the century brings climate-associated changes. Tour-goers will meet on Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. on South I Street in the first gravel parking lot in from Samoa Boulevard.Read Original Article
