Sloshing through knee-deep water is commonplace in areas of Briny Breezes during king tides. The flooding is expected to occur starting this month. 2022 The Coastal Star photo
By Ruth Santana
They’re images coastal residents have gotten used to seeing: Sportsman’s Park in Lantana resembling a lagoon, impassable roads around the Eau Resort and Spa in Manalapan, residents wading through rising waters in Delray Beach, Briny Breezes, Boca Raton — you name the community — to get into their vehicles.
It isn’t a storm or hurricane that’s typically behind these events.
No, they’re the result of king tides — also known as sunny-day flooding — the higher-than-normal high tides that are possible every fall when a full or new moon is closest to Earth.
They can cause sea levels to be a foot or more above normal.
Residents who live along the Intracoastal Waterway or along the coast or canals may face flooding damage from the seasonal events that have gotten worse due to climate change.
But they might get a break this year.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that this year’s hurricane season will be calmer than normal in the Atlantic Ocean due to El Niño — and the weather pattern could also temper the intensity of this year’s king tides.
Palm Beach County’s Division of Built Environment Risk Reduction says the 2026 king tides are not expected to reach any flood stage. However, the division singled out two king tide event periods — Oct. 26-29 and Nov. 24-27 — for having the greatest potential for flooding.
Although it is easy to predict when a king tide will occur due to astronomical alignments, and for research models to determine the baseline of the tide, strong winds or a passing storm can easily turn a minor event into major flooding.
"Anyone in flood-prone areas should be prepared and should stay alert regardless of the forecast numbers," said Stessy Cocerez, the county's BERR director.
According to the South Florida Water Management District, which uses broader date ranges than the county (which looks at single-day threshholds), the king tide dates for 2026 are:
• Sept. 8-15
• Sept. 24-Oct. 15
• Oct. 22-Nov. 12
• Nov. 22-29
• Dec. 22-27
Briny Breezes, which has been particularly susceptible to king tides, is taking steps to strengthen its infrastructure and protect against future flooding. The town has been preparing to build a new sea wall and improve its storm water systems.
It has also approved allowing higher home elevations after the Federal Emergency Management Agency updated its regulations for homes in heavy flood zones.
“The drainage project should start fourth quarter of 2026. … The sea wall will take six months for permits and construction drawings, and afterwards a year and a half to build,” Town Manager Bill Thrasher said.
When asked if the town will be implementing any extra precautions, Thrasher said, “Nothing we can do right now other than encourage people to park in higher locations and encourage residents to implement flood prevention on their own property. It’s not our responsibility to do it for them.”
The town will continue to implement its usual measures.
“The corporation gives notice of pending high tides and when they are expected to the residents. The police department is notified of parking allowance to avoid ticketing,” Thrasher said in an email.
Other towns are using social media to keep residents up to date. Ocean Ridge posted on Facebook the expected king tide dates and encouraged residents to take precautions to keep themselves safe. The post ended with “a little preparation and awareness go a long way.”
Larry Barszewski contributed to this story.
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