High Tides Expected In January And February In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA – County officials are urging residents and visitors to stay informed of changing weather conditions as high tides are expected and flooding is possible in January and February in Marin County.

High tides often cause flooding along shoreline communities and low-lying roadways of Marin, which can be exacerbated during winter storms, especially in areas such as North San Pedro Road through China Camp in outer San Rafael, Greenwood Cove Drive in Tiburon, and Manzanita Park & Ride in Tamalpais Valley. In fact, Caltrans has preemptively closed the lower half of Manzanita Park & Ride from Jan. 6-14.

"High tides can bring localized flooding to coastal areas, such as Tam Junction, even on sunny days," said Liz Lewis, water resources manager for the Marin County Department of Public Works. "However, with saturated ground at this point in the rainy season, a strong storm coinciding with these high tides could increase impact to bay side areas of Marin, where signs of sea level rise are already showing."

Tides levels could be high enough to cause roadway flooding in parts of Marin, primarily coastal areas, Jan. 8-13 and 19-24 and Fe. 6-10, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's published tide predictions.

The following chart from NOAA shows predicted high tides at or above 6.3 feet during January and February at the San Francisco tide gauge.

The county encouraged drivers to use alternative routes and allow extra time for trips, especially during peak commute times. Travelers should avoid driving through ponded water, as even 6 inches of standing water can stall a low-clearance car, county officials said.