Tide Alerts

King tides are the highest predicted tides of the year and typically occur along the Washington coast during the late fall and winter months. While “king tide” is not a scientific term, it is commonly used to describe periods when astronomical conditions combine to produce unusually high tides. For the 2026–2027 season, some of the highest tides along Washington’s razor clam coast are expected in late November, late December, and late January. Additional very high tides may occur in February and March at some locations. King tides are important for beachgoers and razor clam diggers because they can push water much farther up the beach than a normal high tide. When combined with large surf, strong winds, or coastal storms, conditions can become hazardous and beach access may be affected. King tides themselves are high tides, not razor clam digging tides. Razor clam digs generally take place around low tide, often several hours before or after the day's high tide. Always check the current tide prediction, surf conditions, and WDFW beach-opening information before heading to the coast.