This week's king tides are the highest of the year, and strong northeast winds are pushing even more water onto the coast. The National Weather Service in Miami extended its coastal flood warning through 8 p.m. Wednesday. It warns that numerous roads may close and that low-lying homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure will flood.

The weather service's forecast discussion calls for major coastal flooding with each high tide over the next couple of days. Showers can make it worse.

When the water peaks

These are high tide times at the Virginia Key gauge, from NOAA's predictions and the city of Miami Beach's king tide page. Peaks shift a little by location.

  • Monday, Oct. 26: 9:44 a.m. and 9:48 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 27: 10:31 a.m. and 10:34 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28: 11:20 a.m. and 11:23 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29: 12:11 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30: 1:16 a.m. and 1:07 p.m.

The city lists Monday and Tuesday as the peak days of this round, which runs through Oct. 30. The Miami Herald reports the worst of it is expected Tuesday.

Why it's worse than the tide table

Tide tables only count the pull of the moon and sun. Wind adds more water. On Sunday at 8:54 a.m., the Virginia Key gauge read about 2.17 feet above the average daily high tide. NOAA had predicted about 0.65 feet for that tide.

That reading was already past the gauge's moderate flood level of 1.7 feet. Major flooding starts at 2.5 feet, according to the National Water Prediction Service.

Gusts over 35 mph are possible on land, and frequent gale-force gusts are expected offshore, the weather service says. Atlantic beaches have a high risk of rip currents through Wednesday evening. Swim only near a lifeguard, or stay out of the water.

Where water is showing up

On Sunday, WSVN crews found flooding on Northeast 79th Street and North Bayshore Drive in Miami, near Dickens Avenue and 73rd Street in Miami Beach, and across parts of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne.

Free garage parking for some Beach residents

Miami Beach runs a King Tide Flood Relief Parking Program. Residents whose homes sit next to low streets can register to park for free in city garages, first come, first served. The free parking only applies while a city flood notice is active. Registered users get that notice by email, along with start and end dates. The city's page has a map of the low roads that qualify.

To report flooding or a blocked road in Miami Beach, call the Public Works Control Room at 305-673-7625 or email flooding@miamibeachfl.gov.

Getting around

Move cars off low streets before the morning peak. Don't drive around barricades or through water when you can't tell how deep it is, the weather service says. If a route usually floods, plan trips for the hours between high tides, when the water drains.

More king tides ahead

Two more rounds are expected this season: Nov. 6 to 9 and Nov. 23 to 26. Neither is projected to be as strong as this week's, the Herald reports.

Out this weekend? Lincoln Road's free block party is Saturday night. See our Halloween guide and our story on the Miami Beach Freebee proposal, another way to get around the island.

Tide water covering a street in Brickell
Tide water covers a Brickell street in October 2016. Source