King tides put 2 Fort Lauderdale gauges in minor flood

King tides pushed two Fort Lauderdale river gauges into minor flood stage Friday morning. The high tides run through Tuesday, and the city expects some roads to flood.

Updated Oct. 16: this round of king tides ended Tuesday, Oct. 13, and the weather service’s coastal flood statement has expired. The city’s king tides schedule lists the next window as Oct. 24-31.

The New River gauge at the Riverwalk read 1.46 feet above mean higher high water at 7:54 a.m., and the Middle River gauge at Sunrise Boulevard read 1.67 feet, according to the NOAA National Water Prediction Service. Minor flooding starts at 1.3 feet at both gauges. Moderate flooding starts at 1.7 feet, so the Middle River reading was 0.03 feet short of it.

The National Weather Service in Miami issued a coastal flood statement at 1:45 a.m. Friday for coastal Broward County. It warns of isolated minor coastal flooding through Saturday morning, with some water on low-lying roads and property. The statement runs until noon Saturday. “Do not drive through flooded roadways,” the weather service said.

When the tides peak

The city published the peak tide times for the week in its king tides notice. The water is highest around these times:

The city said water levels this week should be lower than during the late September king tides, but minor flooding is still possible. Rain before or during a peak tide makes the ponding worse. The forecast from the National Weather Service gives a chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday.

How high the water was Friday morning

Gauges across the Fort Lauderdale area read between 1.37 and 1.67 feet on Friday morning:

• Middle River at George English Park, Sunrise Boulevard: 1.67 feet (minor flood)
• New River at the Riverwalk: 1.46 feet (minor flood)
• Port Laudania Canal in Dania Beach, about six miles south: 1.38 feet (minor flood)
• Atlantic Ocean at the Dania Beach Pier: 1.37 feet (minor flood)
• Atlantic Ocean at South Port Everglades: 1.14 feet at 9:06 a.m. (action stage, below flood)

The readings are from the NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge pages. Each gauge uses the same thresholds: action at 1 foot, minor flooding at 1.3 feet, moderate at 1.7 feet and major at 2.5 feet.

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Where it floods

The city’s king tides page names the neighborhoods where it is working on tidal flooding:

• Victoria Park, where drainage work is underway
• Southeast Isles, which the city says has significant tidal impacts
• Middle River Terrace, where rain and king tides combine, with a project going into design

It also lists seawall work planned or in design on Sebastian Street, Seville Street, Aurelia Place, Delmar Place and Solar Plaza Drive, and an earthen berm pilot on the south side of Las Olas Boulevard.

During king tides, city crews check tidal valves that let rainwater out but keep saltwater from backing up into the streets. They also clear storm drains, watch pump stations and can close flooded streets. Where flooding is significant, vacuum trucks pull standing water off the streets at low tide, the city said.

What it means for you

• Plan trips around the peaks. Low streets near the Intracoastal, the New River and the Middle River are most likely to hold water for an hour or two either side of the times above.
• Do not drive through standing water. The city warns that saltwater causes severe, corrosive damage to vehicles. Driving through it also pushes water onto neighboring property.
• Report an impassable road to the city’s Customer Support Center at 954-828-8000, by email to cservice@fortlauderdale.gov or through FixIt FTL.
• Sandbags are available at George English Park, Holiday Park, Mills Pond Park, Floyd Hull/Morton Center and Riverland Park. Check the city’s king tides page for the days, because it lists two different weekend schedules.
• The next king tides are predicted for Oct. 24-31, Nov. 5-11, Nov. 22-28 and Dec. 24-25, according to the same page.

For road work and longer closures, see our page on road construction and closures in Fort Lauderdale. Our hurricane prep guide covers flood zones and insurance.