EUREKA, California – The air smells of salt and seaweed this morning as gray clouds hang low over the Pacific. A thin mist clings to the bluffs, and the sound of waves echoes with a little more power than usual — a quiet warning before high tide.
The National Weather Service in Eureka has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory, in effect through early Friday afternoon, for Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. High tides paired with long-period swells could push water 1 to 2 feet above normal, causing minor flooding in low-lying coastal areas. Beachgoers, fishermen, and drivers near Humboldt Bay and King Salmon Road should be alert for sneaker waves and flooded parking areas.
The highest water levels are expected around midday, when tides peak along the north coast. Mariners should also use caution as strong surf continues to affect harbor entrances and coastal channels. For safety, the weather service urges avoiding jetties, sea walls, and other exposed oceanfront areas during high tide.
After the tide recedes, skies will brighten into the weekend. Temperatures will hover near 60°F, with partly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday — a welcome break for anyone planning coastal drives or late-fall yard cleanup. Looking ahead, light rain could return by midweek, marking another pulse of Pacific moisture typical for early November.
While no major storm is expected immediately, forecasters note that this pattern — high tides, scattered rain, and mild air — is often the first hint of the West Coast’s transition toward its wetter winter rhythm.
Five-Day Outlook for Eureka, CA:
Fri: 60/47 – Coastal flooding risk; turning mostly sunny.
Sat: 63/50 – Partly sunny; calm.
Sun: 64/52 – Mostly cloudy; dry.
Mon: 64/51 – Partly cloudy; seasonably mild.
Tue (Veterans Day): 60/52 – Light rain returns late.
