Rare King Tides Push Water Into Streets Across Northern California
Flooding spread across parts of Northern California this weekend as an already soggy winter collided with powerful king tides, pushing water into streets, neighborhoods, and low-lying coastal areas.
After weeks of persistent rain, the latest surge arrived along the San Francisco Bay Area, where king tides amplified rising water levels. These tides occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align and the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, intensifying gravitational pull and driving tides higher than normal.
Parts of the Bay Area could see some of the highest coastal flooding in decades this weekend, as extreme king tides combine with storm surge and strong winds, prompting forecasters to issue a coastal flood warning.
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 2, 2026
?: Jessica Christian pic.twitter.com/RKbdNsprlg
The impacts were most severe in Marin County, where record-high tides combined with rainfall flooded roadways and neighborhoods. Authorities reported submerged streets along a roughly 15-mile corridor stretching from Sausalito to San Rafael, with water depths reaching three to four feet in some locations. Emergency crews were dispatched to rescue motorists who attempted to drive through flooded roads.
Officials said the tide levels were the highest seen in more than 20 years, and the added rainfall created ideal conditions for widespread flooding. Residents were urged to stay home and avoid flooded areas as water slowly receded. In some communities, people were seen wading—or even kayaking—through inundated streets.
Elsewhere in the state, storm impacts extended south into Santa Barbara County, where flooding and mudslides forced road closures and blocked a major highway near Goleta. Authorities confirmed one storm-related fatality after a man was swept into a creek.
The National Weather Service kept a flood advisory in place for the Bay Area through Sunday afternoon, with additional rounds of rain expected into early next week.
