Local
South Florida faces coastal flooding as king tides coincide with weekend storms
High tides, heavy rain and strong onshore winds could combine to cause flooding across parts of South Florida from Saturday into early next week. Forecasters warn rainfall totals remain uncertain, with some scenarios reaching 5 to 7 inches in 48 hours.
South Florida could see coastal and street flooding this weekend as unusually high tides coincide with heavy rain and gusty winds, with the greatest concern from Saturday through Monday, forecasters said Thursday, Oct. 22.
The National Weather Service issued Coastal Flood Advisories for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties through 11 p.m. Thursday. Moderate flooding is possible during high tides, including on roads, in parking lots and in other low-lying areas.
Thursday’s high tides were forecast for 5:54 a.m. and 6:11 p.m. in Miami Beach, 5:46 a.m. and 6:05 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale, and 5:45 a.m. and 6:05 p.m. in Palm Beach. A stronger king tide cycle is expected over the weekend and into early next week.
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast to become more widespread Saturday as moisture moves in from the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The Weather Prediction Center has placed parts of the East Coast metro area, from near Port St. Lucie to northern Miami, under a Level 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rain and flash flooding on Saturday.
Rainfall estimates vary: a lower-impact scenario calls for 1 to 2 inches, while more concerning forecasts show 5 to 7 inches over 48 hours, with locally higher amounts possible. A general outlook calls for 2 to 4 inches this weekend into early next week. Streets, parking areas and neighborhoods with poor drainage could flood, especially where rain falls around high tide.
Sunday may bring the strongest winds, with sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph and gusts potentially topping 40 mph. Northeasterly and easterly winds can push additional water toward the coast, while elevated water levels can slow rainwater drainage. Rain could continue into Monday, extending the risk.
The king tide event is expected to run from Oct. 24 through Oct. 30. The annual astronomical high along the East Coast is forecast for Oct. 27, while the highest levels in the Florida Keys are expected Oct. 28 and 30. King tides are exceptionally high astronomical tides caused by the positions of the sun, moon and Earth; wind, surf and low pressure can make their effects more severe.
Palm Beach County was also under a High Surf Advisory, with breaking waves of 5 to 7 feet, and a high risk of rip currents was in effect along Atlantic beaches through Friday. Forecast details, including where the heaviest rain will fall, could change.