During the week of July 29, Sausalito will have a new moon and the Earth will be near its aphelion, or farthest point from the sun. The combination of these two factors will result in especially high tides, sometimes referred to as “king tides.” King tides that exceed 6.5′ can cause street flooding in Sausalito, and in portions of our parking lots.
High tides exceeding 6.5′ are predicted on the following days:
- Monday, July 29 at 10:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 30 at 10:50 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 31 at 11:40 p.m.
- Friday, August 2 at 12:31 a.m.
- Saturday, August 3 at 1:23 a.m.
Wind can increase tide heights and inundation areas, especially if they are coming from the south.
Staff from Sausalito Public Works, the Sausalito Police Department, and Southern Marin Fire will monitor flood zones on each of these days and place “flooded” signs in the areas that are usually affected by king tides. As a proactive measure, Caltrans will also be closing the lower half of the Manzanita Park and Ride Lot just north of Sausalito from Friday, July 26 until Sunday, August 4.
And of course, extreme low tides always follow king tides, so if you’re planning to go boating or kayaking around those dates, check tides extra carefully.