Flooding submerges streets and contaminates beaches
Heavy rain is combining with king tides in South Florida
It’s a case of bad timing. Heavy rain is coinciding with king tides today and tonight, and the result is coastal flooding on land and rough seas for boaters, according to the National Weather Service.
King tides, which raise the water level higher than a normal high tide, occur when the moon makes its closest approach to earth. Add that to seasonal changes in weather and currents and you get a watery mess on streets.
And then there’s all this rain. Flood advisories are in effect for parts of Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. The National Weather service said 2 to 4 inches of rain are expected across the region, with higher amounts possible in some areas. All that rain plus the king tides means it’s possible for some areas to accumulate 6 inches of water.
The one-two punch is also creating a mess on South Florida’s beaches. Heavy runoff and high surf have likely increased water bacteria levels, testing found, prompting the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County to issue health advisories for seven beaches: Riviera Beach, Phil Foster, Palm Beach Municipal, Lake Worth - Kreusler, Ocean Inlet Park, Boynton Beach and Sandoway-Delray Beach.
We’re in the most intense king tide period of the year now, the stretch between the end of summer and Thanksgiving, because there’s a stronger gravitational pull between the sun and moon.
This month’s king tide period began Wednesday, Oct. 14, and ended Wednesday, Oct. 21. Next month’s king tide is between Nov. 13-18. King tides, which can raise the water level by a foot, are worse now than in past years, scientists believe, because of climate change that has led to rising sea levels.
Fort Lauderdale officials have issued guidelines for coping with king tides.
“We’ve been having higher than normal tides,” said meteorologist Steven Ippoliti. “Anything that’s closer to the coast is having trouble draining off during high tides, so that’s causing some [flooding] issues.”
Some areas of South Florida will get a reprieve here and there, but the clouds won’t part until Monday, Ippoliti said. “It might start backing off some, but it’s going to continue. It’s going to go through the weekend.”
According to Wednesday’s forecast discussion, weather satellites show “a tail of moisture continued to be pumped in across South Florida” with more than 2 inches of rain expected.
“Continued breezy easterly flow will allow gusty downpours and embedded thunderstorms to move over the Atlantic and across the region,” forecasters wrote. “The main concern will be the downpours with high rainfall rates leading to flooding concerns.”
Record rainfall amounts are not being forecast, but that remains to be seen.
“I’m not saying it can’t happen. It’s possible,” Ippoliti said. “Some locations have had quite a bit of rain.”
So far this month, the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas have received over 6 inches of rain, which is more than an inch above average. The West Palm Beach area has had over 10 inches, which is more than 3 inches above normal, weather records show.
Any showers that do develop Friday and Saturday will generally be quick-moving and fairly tame by comparison.
“Some areas are going to get some breaks,” he said. “But it’s kind of shifting around.”