King Tides, Winds Raise South Florida Flood Risk

South Florida faced a heightened risk of coastal flooding as king tides, onshore winds and expected rain combined, with the National Weather Service forecasting moderate to major flooding around Tuesday’s peak tides. The current king-tide period began Friday and is expected to continue through October 31. The forecast calls for the greatest risk around high tides Tuesday, with flooding possible into Wednesday. The National Weather Service warned that low-lying coastal areas could be affected; forecasts describe potential impacts, not confirmed flooding across the region. Flooding was already reported in Hollywood on October 25. Water covered Franklin Street and Ocean Drive and reached nearby businesses, according to a resident who described water as about knee-high and said an office had filled. In coastal areas, inundation is typically worst for about an hour before and after high tide. Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, reported that Virginia Key’s tide gauge had registered moderate flooding, about 1.6 feet above sea level, for five consecutive days as of Saturday. That measurement reflects the gauge reading he cited, not a regionwide estimate...