Astrology

King tides flood Boynton Beach and other Florida coastal streets this week

King tides are flooding coastal roads, beaches and a condominium complex along Florida's east coast this week, with coastal flood warnings in effect and high tide falling around 9 to 11 p.m. for several days, The Weather Channel reports. Flooding is worst in low-lying areas with poor drainage, including Boynton Beach, where roads have closed.

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Water reaches knee-deep levels in Boynton Beach#

At the Coastal Towers Condominium Apartments on East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach, water from the Intracoastal Waterway spread across parking spaces, roads and walkways on Tuesday, reaching ankle-deep levels in some spots and knee-deep in others, WPTV reports. Resident Sophia Cywar described the situation as creating significant obstacles for those trying to access the property, and John Cotanch, who has lived there 10 years, told WPTV, "It's been bad before, but this is really bad."

Property manager Chrissy Ryan said Coastal Towers put in a new seawall roughly two years back, but water is still entering from both sides because neighboring properties have lower seawalls, according to WPTV. She also said valve checks discussed roughly a year and a half ago still need to be addressed.

Elsewhere in South Florida, flooding submerged lanes of major roads and left drivers contending with water reaching their wheel wells at various crossings, while saltwater reached the doors of coastal businesses in Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, according to AOL.co.uk. FOX Weather separately reported coastal flooding in parts of California as well as Florida this week.

Researchers call this week's tide an unmatched high#

Tuesday marked the peak of this round of king tides, which AOL.co.uk calls the highest tides of the year, intensified by strong winds from the ocean and rising sea levels. Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Research, said a low pressure system passing the coast was "bulldozing water onto the coast," according to AOL.co.uk.

According to AOL.co.uk, Miami's Virginia Key tide gauge has never measured higher water levels outside of hurricane conditions since its 1994 installation. Hurricane Irma in 2017 still holds the top spot, having brought 3.6 feet of water above high tide. McNoldy told AOL.co.uk, "There is no way king tide ever got this high before 1994."

Miami has experienced a gain of roughly 8 inches in sea level rise since the Virginia Key gauge went in, and research shows a growing trend toward more hours of water higher than high tide as seas rise, according to AOL.co.uk. This round of king tides began Friday and was set to continue through at least Wednesday, the outlet reports.

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