California is a magical place in the winter, the monarchs return to the state to overwinter, Santa Claus arrives on a surfboard, and twice in two months, the waves get very, very high.

King Tides, the natural phenomenon that results when the gravitational pull of the sun, the moon, and Earth align , occur Dec. 4-5 and again on Jan. 2-3, 2026.

In some parts of the state, King Tides made a special appearance in November due to the Super Moon, but for the most part, King Tides are a seasonal two-fer.

King Tides are important for a couple of reasons. They help us understand how a higher sea level will impact coastal communities and allow jurisdictions to plan for future sea level rise.

While King Tides are not caused by global climate change, scientists expect average daily tides t

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