The California Coastal Commission’s King Tides Project opens its second photo window of the season December 23 to 25, 2026, asking residents to document the tides as they reach roads, sea walls and beaches. Some Northern California locations may also see king tides on December 22.
Key Takeaways
- Statewide king tides fall December 23 to 25, 2026, with a final window January 21 to 22, 2027.
- King tides typically run at least one foot above the average high tide, according to the Coastal Commission.
- Photos can be uploaded through a web form or the free Survey123 app, which works offline and uploads later.
- The Commission recommends shooting within about half an hour of the local high-tide time.
- The Coastal Commission lists a public king tides event in Arcata on December 24.
Christmas Week Brings the Season’s Second Round of King Tides
King tides are the highest predicted high tides of the year. They happen when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon line up in late fall and winter. The California Coastal Commission’s King Tides Project lists three statewide windows this season: November 24 to 26, December 23 to 25 and January 21 to 22, 2027. Northern California locations may also see high tides on December 22, January 20 or January 23.
The December window follows the first round of king tides over Thanksgiving week. Because it falls during the holidays, many Californians will be home and near the coast.
King Tides Offer a Preview of Higher Seas
King tides themselves are not caused by climate change. They are predictable astronomical events. The California Coastal Commission uses them as a window into the future, asking what the coast will look like when today’s king tides become everyday high tides.
That question frames the photo project, which has collected images of the highest tides since 2010. A photo of water lapping at a sea wall or covering a parking lot today shows how the same place might look on an ordinary day as sea levels rise. For broader climate context, readers can look at California’s latest greenhouse gas emissions data.
How to Time a King Tides Photo
The California Coastal Commission publishes a tide map with pins along the coast. Residents choose a location, find the nearest pin and check the predicted time and height of the high tide there. The Commission asks photographers to shoot as close to that time as possible, ideally within half an hour. NOAA’s Tides & Currents page offers additional predictions.
The Commission notes that actual water levels may exceed predictions, particularly during El Niño or Kelvin wave conditions, which it says are expected to be significant this winter. Storm swells can also raise water heights, so the Commission suggests checking swell forecasts before heading out.
Landmarks Make King Tides Photos More Useful
The most informative images come from areas prone to flooding and erosion, according to the Commission. Photos work best when water levels can be read against something fixed, such as cliffs, rocks, roads, buildings, bridge supports, sea walls, staircases or piers. The project accepts photos from any California location influenced by the tides, not only the places pinned on the map.
Uploading Photos Takes a Web Form or a Free App
Before shooting, participants should make sure location services are on for their phone camera so each photo carries its location. Photos can then be submitted two ways.
Through a web browser, participants open the King Tides Photo Upload form on the Commission’s site, upload a photo and complete the form, repeating for each image. Through the free Survey123 app, participants open the same form from their phone’s browser, select the option to open it in the app and allow location access. No Esri account is required. The app tags each photo with its location, and each photo is submitted individually.
The app also works offline. Participants can complete forms at the shoreline, where they are saved to the app’s outbox, then send them later from wifi or cell service. Uploaded photos appear on an interactive map, and video clips can be submitted through a separate link on the Commission’s site. Participants can also share images on social media using #kingtides.
Safety and Wildlife Come First at the Shoreline
The California Coastal Commission tells participants to follow local and statewide safety guidelines, heed emergency closures and warnings, take care on slippery surfaces and stay back from big waves. Its standing advice is simple: don’t turn your back on the ocean.
The Commission also asks photographers to watch for shore birds and other animals resting above the tide line and to avoid flushing them while getting a shot. Coastal communities are preparing for the high water as well, part of a winter that includes the state’s Highway 1 task force for coastal communities.
Arcata Hosts a Listed Event on December 24
Most organized king tides events this season fall in November and January. For the December window, the Coastal Commission lists a public event in Arcata on December 24. Residents elsewhere can take part on their own using the tide map and upload tools.
The Photo Project Runs in the Coastal Act’s 50th Year
This season’s king tides fall during the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act, which the Legislature passed on August 23, 1976. The Coastal Commission is marking the anniversary throughout 2026. Inviting residents to document their own shoreline, from beaches to bay trails, fits a law built around public access to the coast.
FAQs
When are the December 2026 king tides in California?
Statewide king tides fall December 23 to 25, 2026. Some Northern California locations may also see them on December 22.
How do I submit king tides photos to the Coastal Commission?
Turn on location services for your camera, then upload through the King Tides Photo Upload form on the Commission’s site or the free Survey123 app. Each photo is submitted individually.
Are king tides caused by climate change?
No. King tides are predictable astronomical events. The Coastal Commission uses them to show what everyday high tides may look like as sea levels rise.
When is the last king tide of the 2026 to 2027 season?
The final statewide window is January 21 to 22, 2027. Some Northern California locations may also see high tides January 20 or 23.
