Oregon / Washington King Tides Misconceptions: Not Always a Supermoon Involved

Published 12/01/25 at 6:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) – What is different about this upcoming King Tides, December 4 – 6? There's an added supermoon – and no, that's not always the case. (Above: Yachats - Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

One of the great misconceptions is that king tides happen only with supermoons. Since 2024 we've had a run of that, but back in 2023 there was a different super full moon in the summertime, far from the Perigean tides we know as king tides.

And yes, Perigean tides is actually the correct name for them.

The actual definition of a king tide event often gets mixed up with other things. Oregon Coast Beach Connection chatted with National Weather Service's (NWS) Brian Nieuwenhuis, from its Medford office. King tides is close in definition to a super full moon – but not quite.

“A Perigean Spring Tide occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the earth and also aligned with the sun and our point on the planet (this alignment is called Syzygy, which I think is a fun word),” Nieuwenhuis said. “This typically occurs for us in the winter, and can be at other times of the year in different parts of the world. The Florida king tides occur in the fall.

“A supermoon occurs when the full moon happens at the same time that the moon is closest to Earth (perigee) on its monthly orbit, but not necessarily when the alignment occurs.”

Barview, courtesy CL Downing and Oregon King Tides Project

The difference is essentially that the sun has to align close at the same time the moon gets close. However, it can get closer during super full moon events. Also part of the problem: the definitions of supermoons and king tides are a bit off because they're not official terms, Nieuwenhuis said.

The next supermoon happens on December 4 at 3:14 p.m.

“It just so happens that this winter, the King Tides and Supermoons are aligned,” Nieuwenhuis said. “The two can happen at the same time, but don't always.”

In 2027, there's only one: in January. By 2028, they've shifted to January, February and March.

Nieuwenhuis provided this chart to show how the dates of the closest moon to Earth can and do move around.

What's the Difference Between King Tides and Oregon / Washington Coast Storm Wave Events

Jim Todd, astronomy expert for OMSI, told Oregon Coast Beach Connection a super full moon can make a difference along the Washington and Oregon coastlines.

“A supermoon causes slightly higher tides than a regular full moon because the moon's closer proximity to Earth results in a stronger gravitational pull,” he said. “This effect can be quantified as the tidal force being about 25% greater than average during a supermoon, leading to higher-than-normal Perigean tides.”

However, the other great misconception about king tides is that people now throw the term around at every high wave event – or what was simply know before as winter storm action has suddenly now become “king tides” by those talking about the Washington or Oregon coast.

High waves on the coast are not king tides: big waves are created by storm systems and can be much bigger and badder than during king tides. King tides can be wilder if there's a storm barreling through at the same time, and indeed that ends up being the case a lot in winter. But it's just coincidence.

Nieuwenhuis has said there's a lot of confusion about that, and another official trying to set the record straight is Janice Langlinais is head of the Coos Bay-North Bend-Charleston Visitor & Convention Bureau.

“We want people to come and see how high the tides can get during a King Tide but was also do not want them to be disappointed if there is not a corresponding High Surf to create the awe-inspiring wave crashes we see at Shore Acres State Park,” Langlinais said.

The breakdown:

- Big storm waves are not king tides; those only happen on king tide events.
- King tides are about tidal conditions – how high the incoming or outgoing tide. Wave events are how rough the seas are and how big the incoming waves on top of the tidal levels.
- King tides do not mean there's always a supermoon as well.
- Whatever the conditions, never turn your back on the ocean. If there's a high surf advisory or warning, stay off beaches altogether.

For full weather forecasts as well as wave forecasts and tides for each area:

Washington Coast Weather

Astoria / Warrenton Weather
Seaside Weather
Cannon Beach
Manzanita Weather / Waves
Nehalem Bay / Wheeler
Rockaway Beach Waves, Weather
Oceanside/Tillamook
Pacific City Weather, Waves
Lincoln City Waves, Weather
Depoe Bay Weather
Newport Waves, Weather
Yachats
Florence
Coos Bay - North Bend - Charleston
Bandon Weather
Port Orford Weather
Gold Beach Weather
Brookings Weather

Upload your photos to the MyCoast app or website for Washington, and in Oregon it's the Oregon King Tides site. They're also hoping to get more from a wider variety of areas.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

 

 

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