PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Video from Otter Rock shows surging tides slamming the Oregon Coast on Thursday, as the first of several seasonal king tides are set to hit the Pacific Northwest this weekend.
Although the upcoming king tides technically start Friday, KOIN 6 Meteorologist Josh Cozart reminds beachgoers that the abnormally high tides slowly build as the alignment of the sun and moon create extra gravitational pull on the Earth.
“They slowly work their way up to King Tide status,” Cozart said.
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Oregon man Mike Peeples recorded the powerful ocean waves shortly before 11 a.m. from the Inn at Otter Crest. The video shows the rising tide tossing logs like toothpicks as powerful waves crash against the coastal bluffs.
Cozart warns that the possibility of sneaker waves makes king tide season especially dangerous. The National Weather Service urges people to stay off and well clear of large logs and debris fields that are anywhere near the surf line or below the high-water marks.
“In the remote and rugged coastline of the Northwest, where sneaker waves, beach debris, extreme tides and freezing water temperature combine, even walking along the beach can be dangerous if you aren’t alert,” the NWS warns. “In areas like this, it is important to understand the dangers that might unexpectedly put you in the water. Cold water temperatures in the Northwest can make any immersion in the water deadly.”
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Oregon’s 2024-25 King Tides Forecast:
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