Climate scientists warn the impacts of the historic climate event could push up water along the coast, the Bay and even the Sacramento River.
Aug 10, 2026
Updated 4:16 pm PT
People wade through an RV park flooded by the king tides on Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California. The National Weather Service Monday warned king tides could cause minor flooding along the Marin County coastline and along Bay Area shorelines this week. (Ethan Swope/AP Photo)
California could see the highest sea levels on record this year, thanks to a historic El Niño, climate change and extreme tides.
It’s the latest forecast for what’s expected to be a historically strong season, one that could cause major flooding and widespread damage in the Bay Area.
“Folks who really think about coastal risks are very concerned that the single highest sea levels are quite possible this winter in California, and that is going to be a problem,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, during an online talk Monday. “This is almost certainly going to happen.”
The warning comes as the National Weather Service Monday warned king tides may cause minor flooding along the Marin County coastline and along Bay Area shorelines this week through Thursday morning.
People paddle through a street flooded by the king tides on Jan. 3, 2026, near Corte Madera in Marin County, California.
Forecasters said they’re anticipating coastal flooding during the “highest high tides,” expected around 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. this week.
Dial Hoang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that low-lying coastal areas near the San Francisco, San Pablo and Monterey Bays, such as Manzanita in Marin and the Embarcadero in San Francisco, are most likely to be impacted by high tides.
In January, a combination of king tides, climate change and winter storms wreaked havoc in Marin County — flooding highways and damaging hundreds of properties. This week’s tides are expected to be lower, reaching around 6.96 feet in San Francisco, compared to a high of 7.16 feet in January.
Though relatively minor compared to last winter’s storms, Hoang still advised residents with flood-prone properties to sandbag their homes and reminded all residents to avoid driving through flooded roads.
“You go into the Golden Gate,” he said, “you go north through the San Pablo Bay, you go into the Carquinez Straight, you keep going east into the Delta Slough, even to the lower reaches of the Sacramento river and the San Joaquin river, you can get to Stockton and still have a tidal influence.”
Swain added that low-lying roadways, including Highway 1 and Highway 101 will be vulnerable to sea-level rise.
KQED’s Jose Velazquez contributed to this report.