Marin Prepares For Seasonal High Tides

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Marin County is preparing for seasonal high tides in the weeks and months to come, which can bring flooding to shoreline communities and low-lying roads even without a storm.

"Coastal communities and areas historically susceptible to flooding have a higher chance of being impacted," county officials wrote Tuesday. "That tends to be most prevalent in areas of Marin where signs of sea level rise are already causing tidal flooding issues during seasonal king tides."

Some of those areas of concern include:

• North San Pedro Road through China Camp (Unincorporated San Rafael)
• Greenwood Cove Drive (Tiburon)
• Lucky Drive (Greenbrae)
• Redwood Highway (Greenbrae Boardwalk)
• Marin City
• Manzanita Park & Ride lot

The county's Department of Public Works and Flood Control and Water Conversation District urges residents and visitors to flood-prone areas to take note of the upcoming high tide predictions, allow extra time for trips in those areas, and remember to always avoid driving through standing water.

Here are the high tides forecast for at least 6.4 feet through January, per NOAA:

2023:

• Oct 28, 11:28 AM, 6.5 feet
• Oct 29, 12:02 PM, 6.6 feet
• Oct 30, 12:37 PM, 6.5 feet
• Nov 24, 8:41 AM, 6.4 feet
• Nov 25, 9:16 AM, 6.6 feet
• Nov 26, 9:52 AM, 6.7 feet
• Nov 27, 10:28 AM, 6.7 feet
• Nov 28, 11:05 AM, 6.5 feet
• Dec 11, 9:24 AM, 6.4 feet
• Dec 12, 10:01 AM, 6.6 feet
• Dec 13, 10:42 AM, 6.7 feet
• Dec 14, 11:26 AM, 6.6 feet
• Dec 15, 12:14 PM, 6.5 feet
• Dec 23, 8:05 AM, 6.6 feet
• Dec 24, 8:46 AM, 6.7 feet
• Dec 25, 9:26 AM, 6.7 feet
• Dec 26, 10:07 AM, 6.6 feet
• Dec 27, 10:46 AM, 6.4 feet

2024:

• Jan 9, 08:55 AM, 6.6 feet
• Jan 10, 09:42 AM, 6.8 feet
• Jan 11, 10:30 AM, 6.9 feet
• Jan 12, 11:19 AM, 6.9 feet
• Jan 13, 12:10 PM, 6.6 feet

In a news release Tuesday, county officials shared a few seasonal reminders for navigating the season, including a few steps residents can take to prepare now:

"Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and take action on their own property to help reduce flood risk. In advance of storms, residents should clear dead leaves from driveway pipes, rooftop gutters, and storm drains on their private property. Dead foliage needs to be placed in compost bins, not put in streets where it will clog neighborhood drainage systems. Those living in flood-prone areas should test their sump pumps and stock up on sandbags (available at most hardware stores), as well as learn how to properly use them prior to storms. Additionally, ReadyMarin.org provides detailed resources, including emergency grab-and-go packing checklists, that can be helpful for residents to prepare for the unexpected."

Residents can find traffic information via 511, and follow key emergency updates on the social media accounts of the DPW, Marin County Sheriff's Office, and the California Highway Patrol. More information is available on the Marin County emergency portal, and real-time weather gauge data is available via OneRain.