The warning ran Oct. 26-28 and the Lake Worth gauge passed major flood stage at 2.71 feet Tuesday. An advisory now runs to 8 p.m. Saturday. Tide advice inside.
Updated Oct. 30: The king tides passed major flood stage. The weather service’s Lake Worth tide gauge peaked at 2.71 feet above the normal high-tide line at 9:24 a.m. Tuesday and 2.67 feet Wednesday; major flooding starts at 2.5 feet. The warning was extended to 8 p.m. Wednesday, and a coastal flood advisory now runs until 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Details in our Oct. 30 story.
The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood warning for coastal Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach’s waterfront. It runs from 2 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The weather service expects moderate coastal flooding around each high tide, reaching major flood stage on Monday and Tuesday.
The weather service office in Miami issued the coastal hazard message at 7:43 a.m. Sunday. It replaces the coastal flood advisory we reported on Thursday, which stays in effect until the warning starts.
What the weather service expects
For coastal Palm Beach County, the warning says:
- numerous roads may be closed
- low-lying homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure will be flooded
- some shoreline erosion will occur
- breaking waves of 8 to 10 feet in the surf zone, under a high surf advisory until 2 a.m. Wednesday
- life-threatening rip currents through late Tuesday night
The weather service said coastal flood advisories “will then be necessary through much of next week after the peak of King Tides.”
Sunday’s tide already reached moderate flooding
The weather service’s Atlantic Ocean tide gauge at Lake Worth, about seven miles south of downtown, read 2.19 feet above the normal high-tide line at 7:48 a.m. Sunday. On the weather service’s scale for that gauge, moderate flooding starts at 1.7 feet and major flooding at 2.5 feet.
The tides are higher still on Monday and Tuesday. Wind adds to them. The weather service forecast for West Palm Beach on Sunday evening called for a northeast wind of 17 to 22 mph Monday and Tuesday, with gusts as high as 36 mph. It put the chance of rain at 50% Monday and 70% Tuesday.
The high tides to watch
These are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s predicted high tides at the Port of West Palm Beach (station 8722588), in feet above the station’s low-water reference. The predictions cover the tide alone, and wind can push water higher.
| Day | High tide | Predicted height |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 26 | 8:50 a.m. | 4.1 feet |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | 8:58 p.m. | 3.5 feet |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 9:38 a.m. | 4.2 feet |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 9:45 p.m. | 3.5 feet |
The morning tide is the higher one on both days. The city has said the effects of a king tide can be seen from about 1.5 to 2 hours before the peak until 1.5 to 2 hours after it, in its king tide release on Oct. 5. The city had not issued a new release on the tides by Sunday evening.
What it means for you
- Allow for flooded roads from about 7 to 11 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, especially near the Intracoastal Waterway and in low-lying neighborhoods.
- Do not drive through standing water or around barricades, the weather service said.
- Move cars off low streets and lots before the morning high tide.
- Keep children and pets out of floodwater. The city says it can hide pollutants and broken glass.
- Stay out of the ocean if you are not a strong swimmer. If a rip current catches you, float and swim along the shore, the weather service said.
- Report flooding to the city at 561-822-2185. The city hotline is 561-822-2222.
We will update this story when the warning ends or changes. The full season’s dates are in our king tides guide. Closed roads are listed on our road construction and closures page, and our power outages page has what to do if the lights go out.
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