Are king tides getting worse in South Florida?

Yes. Miami has gained about 8 inches of sea level since 1994, and in October 2026 Fort Lauderdale's king tide expert said the water ran 6 inches higher than previous king tides. The Port Everglades gauge set a record in September 2026 and broke it again a month later. Higher baseline water means each tide reaches streets that used to stay dry.

Are King Tides Getting Worse in Fort Lauderdale and Miami?

Updated October 29, 2026

What the October 2026 numbers show

On October 27, 2026, Miami's Virginia Key gauge recorded the most water it has measured outside a hurricane since it was installed in 1994, about 2.5 feet above high tide. University of Miami researcher Brian McNoldy said it was essentially tied with Hurricanes Wilma and Irene, and called it the highest king tide ever. Researchers also point to a clear trend toward more hours each year above normal high tide.

In Fort Lauderdale, the city's Dr. Nancy Gassman said the number of high tides and their maximum height have both gone up, and named new spots reached this year, including the Himarshee district and Mayan Drive.

What it means for your house

Projections cited after this tide put South Florida at about two more feet of sea level by 2060. For homeowners on low streets, the practical takeaway is that a house that flooded once is likely to flood again. When you repair, rebuild the lowest part of each room with materials that can be rinsed and dried, keep valuables and equipment off the floor, and look at flood coverage well before the next season, since new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start.

Related questions

Is my neighborhood going to keep flooding on king tides?

If it flooded this October, plan as if it will again. The streets that flooded in 2026, like the isles off Las Olas, Hollywood Lakes, North Beach in Miami Beach and the canal neighborhoods in Miami Shores, share a few traits: low ground, water on several sides, and drainage that empties into a canal or the bay. When the water outside is high, those drains run backward. Cities are raising seawalls, adding tidal valves and planning bigger pumps and gates, and those help, but sea level keeps rising underneath them, and the projects take years. Fort Lauderdale also noted this year that the tide reached places that had not flooded before, so being on a street that stayed dry in the past is no longer a guarantee. For a homeowner, the useful steps are the ones you control: know your elevation, check your flood coverage, keep the lowest part of the house built to survive water, and know the dates.

Should I raise my house or just rebuild the lower walls better?

That depends on how often and how deep the water gets in, and on your budget, and it is a bigger question than a remodel. Raising a house is a major structural project with engineering, permits and costs well beyond a repair, and it is not something we do. What we can help with is the part most homeowners can act on right away: rebuilding the lowest two to four feet of the house so the next flood is a cleanup instead of a gut job. That means waterproof flooring or tile instead of wood and laminate, PVC or composite baseboards, a gap at the bottom of the drywall, mold-resistant board in the lowest row, and cabinet bases that are not particle board. It also means moving what you can, like a washer, dryer or freezer, off the garage floor. If water comes in more than once a year or gets more than a few inches deep, it is worth talking to an engineer about elevation and to your city about any flood mitigation grants.

Areas hit by the October tide

Sources

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