King tides display their fury along Oregon's Coast

A woman in Cannon Beach was caught by a massive sneaker wave a few weeks ago and nearly washed to sea. The drama was captured on a phone camera by a passerby who coaxed her back to shore as she appeared dazed and disoriented. The video has been viewed some 600,000 times.

Such happenings do not stop thousands of Oregonians, many from Sisters Country, from flocking to the coast to witness powerful king tides. The first king tides of the season occurred November 15-17. The next is scheduled for December and then again January 11-13.

The January phenomenon matches with hundreds of Central Oregonians who head to the coast for whale watching. Marsha and Keith Blaine, who winter in Camp Sherman, take in all three each year, drawn to what Marsha describes as "majestic."

"You have to see it with your own eyes," Keith said. "It's kind of like the Grand Canyon – you simply can't describe it adequately."

Photo by Bill Bartlett

King tides are spectacular but can be dangerous. Sisters folks enjoy going to the coast when the phenomenon is in action.

King tide is a frequently used term describing exceptionally high tides or the highest tides of the year. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. King tides, also called perigean spring tides, occur when the moon is new or full and is at its closest point to orbiting Earth.

When the sun and moon are at their closest distance to Earth, their gravitational pull is immense, producing higher tides. With king tides, the ocean water level rises higher than usual and coastal rivers often swell.

Flooding often occurs in low-lying areas, especially when king tides are accompanied by a winter storm.

It's those storms that are magnets for visitors wanting to witness nature in full fury and magnitude.

November's king tides were created by a Beaver Supermoon. This was the fourth and final Supermoon of the year making the moon appear bigger and brighter than normal.

Bert Rollins of Sisters and three of his photographer pals make the trek once or twice each year to capture the waves. "November's were recorded at 28 feet, not a record," Rollins said. "We've seen 50-footers regularly at Shore Acres (State Park)."

The record for Oregon is 60 feet near Astoria in December of 2018.

King tides also provide joy and anticipation for shells and other treasures as the receding waves reveal unseen finds. Cory Levitt in Tumalo is often on the king tide scene with his metal detector. "You can't believe all the things I've found," Levitt smiles. "Coins, jewelry, even a Japanese bus token from years ago."

While stunning and awe inspiring, waves from king tides are extremely dangerous and not to be taken lightly. Deaths have occurred and many injuries reported every year. Rescuing somebody caught in a sudden wave is also fraught with risk.

The Coast Guard and National Weather Service are urging the public who visit coastal beaches during King Tides to be on alert for dangerous surf and potentially fatal sneaker waves.

"Sneaker waves are disproportionately large waves which surge unexpectedly up the beach without warning. They are characterized by insignificant heights within period groups of small waves, giving the appearance of light sea conditions.

"The sudden rush of water will immerse the dry shore and send large logs rolling, becoming dangerous projectiles. Other hazards include being swept out to sea and immersion into cold water. Sneaker waves are the deadliest natural hazard on the West Coast; it is of the upmost importance to practice sound judgement prior to and while patronizing coastal beaches."