See Upcoming King Tides In Watsonville

From the City of Watsonville: The California King Tide season offers its second round of tidal exploration on January 1st and 2nd of 2018. King Tides encapture the highest high tides of the year, creating a living record of the changing Watsonville shoreline and Monterey Bay coast, and a glimpse into what daily tides may look like in the future as a result of sea level rise. Winter King Tide season creates an added layer of precaution, as the extreme tidal events can transpire during times of heavy downpour when communities are already highly sensitive to excess water and flooding. This New Year however, Watsonville’s first week weather predictions call for zero percent chance of precipitation and therefore present an opportunity for residents to safely participate in documenting the King Tide experience.

King Tides occur when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned at their closest points, resulting in the largest tidal range seen over the course of a year. They arise on new or full moons and are enhanced when the Earth is nearest to the Sun, which is always around the welcoming of the New Year. Combined with January’s first supermoon, the California King Tides fall during visible daylight hours and are not a sight to be missed. These changing tides impact animal predation behavior, as food moves into new zones at high tides, and exposure at low tides creates an endless buffet for birds. Residents are encouraged to share Watsonville photos with the California King Tides Project, and also tag them on Facebook.

The 2018 Winter Weather Forecast Long Range Prediction released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), illustrates a variable winter season presenting another gamble for the Watsonville community, one that is situated in historical floodplains. Wetter than average conditions are predicted for the northern reaches of the country with an impending coldsnap this week, and warmer and drier conditions are expected to continue for the southern reaches of the United States, evident by the recent and unprecedented Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara. With the Monterey Bay falling somewhere in between, Watsonville appears to have an equal chance of going in either direction, wet or dry. This unpredictability appears to be the most predictable aspect of weather in a changing climate.

The City of Watsonville continues to provide resources for residents interested in supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. After last year’s banner rainfall and flooding, the City hosted a volunteer day in November and filled hundreds of sandbags that are now available for residents, for free, to place around properties prone to flood risk. Additionally, the City delivers a variety of programs to help residents reduce their water consumption and connected energy footprint. The water sector plays a significant role in California’s energy consumption with studies concluding that up to 19 percent of the state’s electricity is spent on water-related activities such as water pumping, transport, and heating. To reduce these demands, the City provides water-conserving plumbing devices including low-flow shower heads and faucets, a free low-usage toilet replacement, a free lawn consultation and lawn replacement rebate, and a rebate on Energy Star rated washing machine purchases. An invaluable partnership between the City and the local nonprofit Central Coast Energy Services also offers energy efficiency home upgrades and weatherization services.

For More Information:

• The pre-filled sandbags are available at Fire Station #1, which is located at 115 Second Street, and at Home Depot on Green Valley Road.
• The City’s Water Conservation Resources
• Central Coast Energy Services

King Tide Schedule:

• January 1st - high tide at 9:25 AM and low tide at 4:25 PM.
• January 2nd - high tide at 10:13 AM and low tide at 5:09 PM.

Image via Shutterstock