Filter by Keyword (1)
Select at least one category to display locations.
58°
Author: Shellie Bailey-Shah
Published December 16, 2017
Last Updated December 16, 2017
Estimated Read Time • 3 minutes
If your winter beach vacations to date have required sunscreen, then you clearly have not experienced a magical Seaside day in January or February, when the weather can change from bright sunshine to misty drizzle in mere hours.
These unpredictable cooler days have perks: There’s something quite satisfying about playing board games and sipping hot chocolate next to a fire in a coastal cottage, waiting for the rain to let up before heading out to explore the shore. And locals will tell you that the best time for beachcombing is low tide after a good storm.
Storm-watchers and tide-observers come to Seaside, standing on the Prom to see the beach transform in the matter of minutes: Storms tend to steal the show, demonstrating the dynamic force of nature present on the Coast. Another ocean phenomenon, “king tides” — defined as unusually high tides — highlight the influence tides have on coastal environments and how climate change can dramatically affect them. King tides occur when the moon is nearest the earth in early winter. Check out the photo contest to see images from this past winter’s event.
Whether you come to Seaside for storms, to watch the tides or to paddle tidally influenced rivers, it’s crucial that you understand when low and high tide occurs since they affect almost everything you’ll do here (including simply lazing on the shore).
Learning to read tide tables can help in planning your day. You can find up-to-date tables specifically for Seaside here. If you’re new to tide tables, here are six pro tips for reading them properly:
How to Read Tide Tables
After selecting the tide table for the appropriate month, scan the left side of the table for the date in question.
As you move across the chart left to right, you’ll see times of day and height measurements in feet.
The measurements represent how many feet above or below chart datum the tide will be at that given time. Chart datum is the plane of reference against which tidal heights are measured; it’s an average of low tide heights.
High tides (H) are the larger, positive numbers. For example, H 8.0 would indicate that the peak swell for that time period will be 8 feet above chart datum (or the average low tide height).
Low tides (L) are the smaller numbers and can be either positive or negative. For example, L -1.0 indicates a low tide at one foot below chart datum. For the best beachcombing, you want to look for low tide — strong minus tides can be especially good beach days
On the Oregon Coast, you’ll typically see two high tides and two low tides per day, roughly six hours apart.
If you aren’t sure about tides or have questions, ask a local or make an inquiry with the Seaside Visitors Bureau staff, who can give you in-person guidance as well as more travel tips.
Subscribe to our Monthly Email! Once a month, we'll send you the latest from our scenic beach and other sites nearby, including Whale Watching. Be in the know on new spots in town Explore Seaside's colorful history Stay up-to-date on events + holidays And so much more! Enter email for newsletter
Once a month, we'll send you the latest from our scenic beach and other sites nearby, including Whale Watching.
Enter email for newsletter
Once-per-month, receive an email with upcoming events, new spots to try, trip ideas, and updates from the Oregon Coast.
First Name (required) Last Name (required) Email Address (required)
Good times are meant to be shared. Same for good trip ideas.
Whether you’re coming with good friends, your four-legged friend, family, or your chosen family, we can’t wait for you to spend your well-deserved vacation time in Seaside.