High tides flood coastal streets in Florida and California

King tides have submerged streets and entered properties in beach communities across California, Florida, and the Carolinas this week. Forecasters expect the flooding to persist through the weekend. The event began with the full moon earlier this week, a period when the gravitational pull of the moon and sun aligns to create higher-than-average tides.

Chris Fisher, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, noted that strong high pressure to the north and low pressure over the Caribbean increased swells in Florida. On the West Coast, the ongoing super El Niño has warmed ocean water and increased its volume. Roger Gass, a meteorologist at the Bay Area forecast office in Monterey, identified Kelvin waves, which are pulses of warm water that raise sea levels, as another contributing factor.

In Southern California, residents of Huntington Beach placed sandbags around their homes on Wednesday to block water. Some commuters used paddleboards and surfboards to cross flooded roads. The Pacific Coast Highway saw closures in several stretches, and tides in Orange and San Diego counties approached record levels. In Northern California, high tides peaked 1.9 feet above normal. Gass stated that coastal flooding typically occurs within 90 minutes before and after high tide, with minor flooding expected in low-lying shoreline areas through Saturday.

Florida's Atlantic coast remained under flood warnings through early Friday. Street flooding was reported in South Carolina coastal cities, including Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Rip currents were possible as far north as North Carolina's Outer Banks. In Fort Lauderdale, drivers had to navigate flooded streets beside marinas and hotels to reach venues for a major boat show.

Virginia Key, a barrier island in Miami, recorded its highest king tide and third-highest water level since records began three decades ago. Fisher called the event historical from a king tide perspective, noting that higher levels were only seen during hurricanes. He described it as a rough beach week with a high risk of rip currents and high surf.

Fisher advised people to stay out of the water and away from beaches through the weekend. The weather service indicated that beach conditions would remain rough. The combination of lunar cycles and specific atmospheric conditions created the intense flooding observed across multiple states.

The National Weather Service continues to monitor the situation. Additional high tides are scheduled for the coming days. Residents in affected areas are advised to check local alerts for updated warnings and closures.