ISLE OF PALMS, South Carolina — This morning’s king tide was one of the greatest of the year around the Isle of Palms, driving surges up the dunes and beneath numerous coastal homes.
Strong onshore winds exacerbated the impact, pushing water across beach access paths and leaving debris spread across the sand. By early afternoon, the water had retreated, but erosion had left exposed roots, ruined stairways, and shifting dunes.
Homeowners report a significant change in the distance the water travels during seasonal king tides compared to years past.
“I’ve been here almost nine years, and I believe I’ve seen an increase in higher tides, particularly king tides,” said Isle of Palms resident Barry Smith. “It just seems like there’s more and more water coming in.”
Another resident, David Copeland, said he witnessed chunks of the beach giving way at the morning high tide.
“I see all the erosion washing underneath the houses,” Copeland explained. “Our staircases were ripped out to sea today. I was standing there, watching as they washed into the ocean.
Town officials say the city constantly monitors erosion and beach conditions after high tides and storms. The Isle of Palms completed its most recent beach renourishment project in 2023, but residents believe ongoing financing and long-term planning will be critical to preserving residences and public access areas along the shoreline.
Smith stated that the changes are happening quickly.
“In the last six months, it’s drastically different,” he told me. “At low tide, there is about 25 to 30 yards of beach. At high tide, there is no beach at all. You just have the sand dunes as a buffer.
