As if South Florida—and half the country along with it—weren’t sinking into the sea fast enough, Florida is currently experiencing the biggest tides on record. “All signs point to this week’s king tide as the highest in South Florida’s history,” writes the venerable Miami Herald as the region is laid bare by strong onshore winds and full-moon tides.
It’s “bulldozing water onto the coast,” University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Research senior research associate Brian McNoldy told the Herald. “This is the highest king tide we’ve ever had. And by ever I mean ever ever, not just since the gauge went in… There is no way king tide ever got this high before 1994,” he said, referring to Miami’s Virginia Key tide gauge.
Between Miami and West Palm Beach, sections of Ocean Boulevard and other major thoroughfares were inundated, and Fort Lauderdale and Miami both peaked on Tuesday (October 27th), registering roughly 2.5 feet above average high tide—”major” flooding, per the National Weather Service. Hurricane Irma pushed in 3.6 feet of water above high tide at Virginia Key, but this week, there’s no hurricane or nor’easter, but a lowly low pressure system sending onshore winds and coinciding with a big fall tide.
Gonzalo E. Vazquez, an investment banker, who had to trudge in his soaking stocking feet across Las Olas Bridge back to his house. “We need the city to take care of it. We need something to alleviate this area because this is going to continue year after year.”
Vazquez and presumably other citizens are concerned particularly about an 80-year-old drainage system about which district managers have reportedly been sounding off about for years, demanding bigger pumps and gates. If Vazquez is for all intents and purposes of his vocation a betting man, the good money would only assume he’s right.
Meanwhile, a few lucky surfers weren’t complaining. Stay high and dry, Florida.