Major Coastal Flooding Continues for the Next Few Days
- Prolonged strong north-northeasterly winds across Florida and offshore the Southeastern United States through into the middle of this week combined with the very recent full moon phase “spring tide” cycle will maintain high water levels over the next several high tide cycles.
- Coastal Flood Warnings are in effect for all of the Florida Keys of Monroe County
- The highest water levels are likely to occur during the nighttime hours of the middle of this week, including Tonight and Wednesday nights for the Upper Keys, and Tuesday through Thursday nights for the Lower and Middle Florida Keys.
- Increasing depth of saltwater flooding of low elevation streets, parking lots, yards, and the overtopping of docks will likely be observed as we approach the peak water levels the middle of this week. Streets were king tide flooding is normally observed each autumn is likely to become impassable to smaller vehicles. Low elevation residences and businesses where access and parking are frequently impacted by annual king tide flooding may experience water intrusion and several inches of flooding.
- For the Upper Florida Keys and Manatee Bay, plan for water levels to potentially reach 1-3 inches higher today than what was experienced late Monday evening/early pre-dawn this morning. Peak tide levels are only expected to fall a couple inches each day later this week.
- For the Middle and Lower Florida Keys, plan for water levels to potentially reach 1 to 3 inches higher tonight than what was experienced late Sunday evening/early pre-dawn Monday morning. Similar levels are expected again Wednesday and Thursday nights, before slowly falling toward the end of the week.
Wind Gusts
- Sustained north to northeast winds of 20 to 25 mph atop the higher Keys bridges this (Tuesday) morning, with frequent gusts of 30 to 35 mph, with the highest winds this morning along the Upper Florida Keys. Winds are expected to gradually decrease to 15 to 20 mph sustained with frequent gusts 25 to 30 mph on the bridges this afternoon through this evening. Sustained winds are expected to be below 20 mph by sunrise Wednesday.
The next brief will be issued by 0930 EDT Wednesday, October 28th.