King Tides are the highest high tides of the year—one to two feet higher than average high tides. They are caused when there is alignment of the gravitational pull between sun, moon, and Earth, according to the California Coastal Commission.

This year's King Tides will take place on November 15-17 and December 13-15.

The high tide times for this weekend in Manhattan Beach are as follows:

November 15: 7:49 a.m. (8.3 feet)

November 16: 8:28 a.m. (8.3 feet)

November 17: 9:09 a.m. (8.1 feet)

By contrast, the average high tides are around 5.5 to 6.5 feet.

Although Manhattan Beach doesn't always have the most dramatic King Tides - due to the long stretch of sand between its beach pathways and the ocean - there are likely to be visibly high waves crashing against the Manhattan Beach Pier.

King Tides occur naturally and regularly. However, scientists are particularly interested in monitoring them because they offer a picture of what regular tides will look like as sea levels continue to rise.

The California Coastal Commission is collecting photos of the King Tides. Anyone who takes photos of the tides is encouraged to submit them here, and/or share them on social media using the hashtag #KingTides. To share a video clip, email [email protected] for instructions.

California is expected to be greatly impacted by sea level rise, according to the California Coastal Commission. By 2050, the median sea level on our coast is expected to rise between .8 feet and 1.2 feet, and by 2100 to between 3.1 feet and 6.6 feet. The main physical effects of sea level rise include increased flooding, inundation, wave impacts, coastal erosion, changes in sediment dynamics, and saltwater intrusion to groundwater supplies.