‘Tis the season … for king tides around Puget Sound

‘Tis the season for king tides: The highest tides of the year. Extreme high tides are headed to Puget Sound Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning of the last week of December.

King tides last January washed up nearly two feet higher than expected, breaking records and flooding some coastal buildings and roads.

University of Washington climate researcher Guillaume Mauger said this month’s king tides are unlikely to be so extreme.

“The king tides for next week are over a foot and a half higher than a typical high tide in Seattle,” Mauger said. “Most of our protections on the coast are designed for a 100-year event, and this wouldn't get close to that.”

“There could be some flooding Friday and Saturday, especially on south facing shores in Puget Sound and North Sound,” Washington Sea Grant oceanographer Ian Miller said by email. “The marine forecast suggests strong winds from the south.”