King Tides

City staff monitors the tidal elevations to respond to areas of flooding and to help keep residents and businesses informed. Emergency temporary pump stations are deployed in the lowest lying neighborhoods where neighborhood improvement projects and stormwater system upgrades have yet to been completed.

For more information on how the City prepares, visit our Flood Awareness page.

• Register for the King Tide Parking Relief Program to obtain FREE temporary parking accommodations during king tides and other weather events. See if your area falls within the prescribed flood zone areas: Flood Zone Map.
• Road closures may occur as a result of flooding. Sign up for our traffic updates by texting MBTraffic to 888777.
• Be sure to have flood insurance for your home or business. Learn more: Flood Insurance 
• If you see flood waters, avoid coming into contact. There could be hazards below the surface, like pollutants and debris, that you cannot see. Six inches of fast flowing water can also knock you off your feet.
• Avoid driving through flooded waters. It only takes less than a meter of water to float a car.
• Wash your car, including the undercarriage, if it came in contact with flood waters. Flood waters are high in salinity and could damage your vehicle.
• Remember, flooding brings standing water. Check around your personal property - if you see standing water for more than 48 hours, report it by calling 305.673.7625. Always drain and cover!
• If you come across any flooding that obstructs access or causes damage on public or private property, please report it through the Miami Beach e-Gov app.
• Properties in low lying areas are strongly encouraged to use flood panels and other flood protection methods.
• If you are a boater, be aware that these high tides cause lower clearances under fixed bridges so check the tides before leaving the dock.
• Boaters are advised to navigate at reduced speeds near seawalls to minimize wakes that may contribute to overtopping and flooding of waterfront properties.
• If your landscape encounters salt water flooding, make sure the area is rinsed off and/or rained on thoroughly and avoid using fertilizers or pesticides.

In the United States, tides are predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA Tides and Currents station map can be used to locate stations that provide water levels, meteorological observations and current observations. The Virginia Key station is the closest NOAA Monitoring Site. The city has also deployed two tide gauges to monitor tides.

The relative distances and positions of the sun, moon and Earth all affect the size and magnitude of the Earth’s two tidal bulges. On a smaller scale, the magnitude of tides can be influenced by the shape of the shoreline and the gulfstream current. According to the NOAA Ocean Service Education local wind and weather patterns can also affect tides. King tides can reach over 12 inches above the average high tide for the year.