Bay Area/ San Francisco

San Francisco Braces for Coastal Flooding Amid King Tides and Storm Surge, Officials Issue Warnings

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Published on January 03, 2026
San Francisco Braces for Coastal Flooding Amid King Tides and Storm Surge, Officials Issue WarningsSource: Tobias Kleinlercher / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As the city grapples with the effects of the recent weather, San Franciscans along the coast are facing substantial flooding, thanks to an unwelcome combo of king tides and storm surge. According to the NWS San Francisco, inundation could reach up to 2.5 feet above normal during high tides on Friday and Saturday, leading to flooded roads and infrastructure. Officials are urging locals to respect closure notices and stay clear of dangerous areas during this period.

A Coastal Flood Warning has been issued for the San Francisco Bay Shoreline, remaining in effect until 2 PM Saturday. The coastal areas, including the Pacific Coast and Monterey Bay, are also under advisories due to anticipated impacts from the high tides and consequent flooding. Wind advisories are on the books as well, forecasting strong southerly winds with gusts up to 50 mph that could complicate conditions further. The NWS warns of beach hazards kicking in on Sunday; enormous westerly swells are expected to deliver breaking waves up to 20 feet, urging beachgoers to stay vigilant and preferably on dry land.

Meanwhile, the weather continues on its disruptive path inland as well. The National Weather Service's forecast discussion predicts daily rain showers through Monday and a slight chance of thunderstorms over the weekend. Strong winds will continue into Saturday afternoon, and although thunderstorms haven't yet appeared, indicators suggest an increase in the necessary atmospheric instability is on the horizon.

The NWS's forecast discussion also hints at more weather woes coming on Sunday with another front rolling in. It's expected to bring a higher rainfall impact, although winds are expected to die down by then. The USGS reported saturated soils, raising concerns that any intense showers could potentially trigger shallow landslides. The rain isn't letting up until at least Tuesday, posing an ongoing risk for areas prone to slides and flooding.

Marine conditions aren't any more promising, with showers and a chance of thunderstorms predicted to continue through the weekend. According to the NWS San Francisco, seas are expected to build up to 16 feet this weekend, then calm down as we move into next week.