Miami, Florida: King Tides Flood Streets in Miami-Dade and Broward as Heavy Rain Moves In

King tides pushed seawater onto streets across Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Friday, and forecasters say the water could go higher over the next four days as heavy rain, strong onshore winds and the highest tides of the year arrive together.

WSVN reported king tide flooding across streets in Miami-Dade and Broward on Friday. The National Weather Service office in Miami has a coastal flood advisory in effect for the east coast of South Florida, with a risk of moderate coastal flooding in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties through at least Saturday, according to USA Today. The South Florida Water Management District said in its Oct. 19 forecast, which runs through Oct. 27, that tidal water levels along the east coast could pass the minor flooding threshold in the coming days and could approach the major flood threshold late in the forecast period.

Why the water is rising now

A king tide is a non-scientific term for an exceptionally high tide, according to NOAA. The highest tides usually come near a new or full moon, and when the moon is at perigee, its closest point to Earth in its orbit. The Palm Beach Post reported that October's full hunter's moon peaks early Monday, Oct. 26, and that the moon is two days from perigee, which strengthens the pull on the water. Brian McNoldy, a senior researcher at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, told the Post the highest predicted tide at Virginia Key in Miami is forecast for Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Rain is the second part of the problem. The National Weather Service in Miami put the chance of rain at 70 percent on Saturday and 80 percent on Sunday, the Post reported, with 3 to 6 inches possible from Friday through Monday in coastal Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and more than 10 inches in a worst case where showers stall over one area. Winds gusting between 30 and 40 mph will push surf into inlets and leave rainwater fewer places to drain. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told the Post the worst of the setup is likely Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Cities are putting barriers and pumps to work

In Hollywood, crews have placed sandbags outside the Ocean Blu store on the Broadwalk, a business that took on about a foot of water during a smaller king tide last month, the Miami Focal reported on Oct. 23. The city has installed added Tiger Dam barriers along the beach and deployed auxiliary pumps, spokeswoman Joann Hussey said, and it may open beach parking garages so residents can move cars out of saltwater. In Fort Lauderdale, chief resiliency officer Nancy Gassman warned that tides early next week are expected to be higher than previously recorded, with the peak running through Tuesday and Wednesday.

The City of Miami advises residents not to drive through floodwater, which can hide trash, pollutants and other hazards, and to wash skin with soap and hot water after contact with floodwater. The city also says not to park in low-lying areas and to use sandbags or other flood protection on low-lying property. This story will be updated in place if the National Weather Service extends the advisory or raises it to a warning, or if cities announce road closures for the peak tides early next week.