The annual creep of the king tides could push bulging brackish water into coastal streets this week with the tug of September’s full harvest moon.
National Weather Service meteorologists have all of South Florida under a coastal flood advisory through at least Friday afternoon with the City of West Palm Beach pegging Thursday as having the highest tide during this first bout with the autumn nuisance .
“While we do not expect widespread flooding, there is potential for localized flooding, so we want residents to be aware, prepare, and stay vigilant,” a city alert sent out Tuesday notes.
High tides are magnified during full and new moons as a sun and lunar alignment sandwiches the Earth, creating a greater gravitational pull. In the fall, seasonal elements also contribute to high tide flooding as summer-warmed water expands and the Gulf Stream current is thought to slow, piling more water along Florida’s coast.
That means minor to moderate flooding in coastal areas, including on the mainland along streets that hug the Lake Worth Lagoon and Intracoastal Waterway. The cities of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach also sent alerts to residents cautioning about the king tides.