King tides and strong winds cause coastal flooding in South Florida
Residents in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Key West are advised to avoid driving through saltwater as high tides coincide with gusty northeast winds.
By Jonathan Cooper ·
A CBS News Miami NEXT Weather Alert is active across South Florida through Wednesday due to the combination of king tides and strong onshore winds.
A coastal flood warning is currently in effect for the region. This warning addresses ongoing moderate to major coastal flooding that occurs during the hours of high tides. The NEXT Weather team urges residents to avoid driving, walking, or wading through the saltwater. The team noted that saltwater is highly corrosive to vehicles.
The next high tide is scheduled for Tuesday morning. In Fort Lauderdale, the high tide will occur at 10:21 a.m. In Miami, the high tide will occur at 10:07 a.m. In Key West, the high tide will occur at 11:57 a.m.
A wind advisory remains in effect for the area. Sustained winds out of the northeast are blowing at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph along the coast. Scattered, gusty downpours are expected to sweep in on the breeze through Tuesday. Thunderstorms are also possible, and any shower or storm may produce brief heavy rainfall rates. Showers occurring around high tide could prolong street flooding and exacerbate water pooling. However, the risk of storm-induced flooding remains low because showers and storms will move quickly, reducing the duration of any localized downpour.
The windy weather is creating hazardous conditions for boating and beachgoers. A Gale Warning is in effect into Wednesday morning due to northeast winds around 30 knots and peak seas of 12 to 15 feet. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through Wednesday evening due to northeast winds of 20 to 25 knots with gusts of 30 to 35 knots. There is a dangerous high risk of rip currents along Atlantic beaches, making it unsafe to go swimming in the ocean.
Highs will remain in the low 80s today and tomorrow due to clouds and wet weather. The winds will begin to lighten slightly on Wednesday, though it will still be breezy with some passing showers. The chance of rain decreases by the weekend, with spotty showers possible through Halloween weekend. Lows will continue in the mid to upper 70s, and highs will stay in the mid 80s.
Source: KDKA-TV · original report published
