The year’s highest tides will hit the Bay Area on Thursday through Saturday, with another set arriving Jan. 2-3. Local and state organizations are preparing a slate of public events designed to spotlight the growing risks of sea level rise and coastal flooding, and citizen scientists are asked to participate in gathering photographic evidence.

Known as king tides, these extreme water levels offer planners a preview of how climate change may reshape California’s shorelines in the decades ahead. The contributed images help scientists and policymakers assess local flooding vulnerabilities and compare real-world conditions to their own sea level rise projection models.

The California Coastal Commission emphasized that king tides — typically at least a foot above average highs — demonstrate w

See Full Page