Around this time of year, Miami is no stranger to
flooding, especially in low-lying Miami Beach. The year’s highest
astronomical tides are due within the next couple of weeks, and
residents are already seeing indications of what could be some of the
highest flood levels in decades.
According to the Miami Herald, earlier this month a high tide came in around a foot higher than predicted. The unusually high sea levels caused water to leak through storm drains and over Indian Creek Drive’s sea wall.
“It happens all the time when it’s high tide,” Miami Beach resident Laura Swanson told CBS Miami. “It’s a shame that the drainage system isn’t any better.”
Every year, high tides are about 10 inches higher in October than in February, on average. The annual “king tide”
occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align. The tide rises to its
highest point of the year and an extra foot of water is brought ashore.
This event combined with high annual tides leads to the Miami area
experiencing a degree of tidal flooding.
Since mid-September, the official water level gauge for Miami has read anywhere between 6 to 12 inches higher than the predicted tides, reports The Washington Post. This has caused issues with tidal flooding in low-lying areas of Miami Beach.
Because it is built on limestone, the entire region of Miami lies relatively low. When
tides become exceptionally high, sea water tends to filter up through
storm drains and the ground, as it did earlier in the month.
“They
have to realize that sea rise is here to stay,” said Mayor Philip
Levine of the Miami Department of Transportation. “They must get
involved to take care of their roads. It’s causing a real challenge for
us down here.”
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