Key Takeaways
- About 7 feet in San Diego, roughly 2 feet over a normal high.
- Big highs in the morning, big lows by 3 or 4 p.m.
- Full or new moon plus the moon's closest pass equals a king tide.
- Skip the 7-foot peak. Surf the push from low to mid tide.
- Tide tables leave out warm water. Add a foot this winter.
- Find your exit first. At 7 feet the beach may not be there.
The Short Answer
A king tide is the highest tide of the year. It comes when a full or new moon lines up with the moon at its closest point to Earth. In La Jolla, NOAA predicts 7.1 feet at 8:23 a.m. on December 24, almost 2 feet above an average high tide.
California's 2026-27 king tides fall on November 24-26, December 23-25 and January 21-22. Check the hour-by-hour curve on the La Jolla tide page before you plan a morning session.
Check it live
This guide is the why. The live page has today's swell, wind and tide.
La Jolla tide chart →When are the next king tides in California?
The California Coastal Commission's King Tides Project lists three runs this winter: November 24-26, December 23-25 and January 21-22. NOAA's predictions agree. December 24 is the biggest: 7.1 feet at La Jolla at 8:23 a.m. and 7.2 feet in San Francisco at 10:37 a.m.
Every one of these peaks lands in the morning. The same days bring the lowest tides of the year in the afternoon, near -1.9 feet at La Jolla. That's a 9-foot swing between breakfast and sunset. The San Francisco tide page shows the Bay version.
When are the next king tides in California?
Big highs in the morning, big lows by 3 or 4 p.m.
What causes a king tide?
Tides come from the moon and sun pulling on the ocean. At a full or new moon they pull in a line, which makes a spring tide. When that lines up with perigee, the moon's closest pass, you get what NOAA calls a perigean spring tide. In early January Earth is also at its closest to the sun, which is why California's biggest tides land in winter.
"King tide" isn't a science word. NOAA calls it a popular term for exceptionally high tides. Our guide to how tides work covers spring and neap cycles.
How does a king tide change the surf?
At 7 feet, most beach breaks stop working. Waves roll in fat and then dump straight on the sand, and the backwash off the steep beach slams into the next wave. Reefs like Cardiff Reef go soft and slow.
The afternoon low flips it. At -1.9 feet, reefs sit shallow, sandbars close out, and rocks you never see stick out. The mid-tide push between the two is usually the best window. Our guide to the best tide for surfing matches tide to break type.
How does a king tide change the surf?
Skip the 7-foot peak. Surf the push from low to mid tide.
Why this year's king tides could top the forecast
NOAA's tide tables only predict the moon and sun. They leave out warm water, low pressure and storm surge, all of which push the sea higher. In the 72 hours to November 10, NOAA's own La Jolla gauge read about 1.25 feet above its predicted tide.
If the water stays that high, a 7.1-foot king tide reaches past 8 feet. Add a winter swell and the surf runs up to the bluffs at Del Mar and across Highway 101 at Cardiff. Check Del Mar's tide and Cardiff's tide before you park.
Is it safe to surf during a king tide?
The danger is getting in and out, not the waves. Beach access stairs end in water, the dry sand you walk back on is gone, and logs and kelp ride the high water. Strong backwash also feeds rip currents, so read our rip current guide first.
No tide is a promise of safe water. If you're not sure, don't paddle out. Watch from shore for 10 minutes and find your exit before you go. New to San Diego? Start with the San Diego beginner guide.
Find your exit first. At 7 feet the beach may not be there.
