2026 King Tide Season in Broward & Palm Beach: Dates, Flooding & What Homeowners Should Know

Updated September 23, 2026 with the South Florida Water Management District's weekly tidal outlook for September 21-27 and this week's heavy rain.

King Tide Season Is Here

If you've ever driven down a street in Fort Lauderdale or Delray on a perfectly sunny day and hit a foot of saltwater, you've met a king tide. It's not a storm. It's the highest high tide of the year, pushed by the moon, and it's strongest in the fall. The result is what cities call sunny-day flooding: streets, sidewalks and parking lots under water with no rain at all.

The good news is king tides are predictable. They usually last about three hours, so if you know the dates and check the tide time, you can plan around them.

2026 King Tide Dates for Broward and Palm Beach

The South Florida Water Management District's latest outlook (September 21) lists these peak windows for the east coast:

• September 24 - October 15
• October 22 - November 12
• November 22 - 29
• December 22 - 27

The biggest day of the year is October 27, 2026. That's the district's annual maximum predicted peak for Florida's east coast.

Cities use different tide stations, so their lists vary a little:

• Fort Lauderdale: Sept. 26 - Oct. 1, Oct. 7-13, Oct. 24-31, Nov. 5-11, Nov. 22-28, Dec. 24-25, plus Dec. 5-8 for low-lying areas.
• Hollywood: Sept. 26 - Oct. 1, Oct. 7-13, Oct. 24-31, Nov. 5-11, Nov. 22-28, Dec. 5-8, Dec. 23-27.
• Palm Beach County: Oct. 26-29 and Nov. 24-27 have the greatest flood potential.

If you only remember one stretch, make it October 24-31.

Why This Week Matters

The next king tide window opens September 24, and it's landing right after a very wet stretch. Parts of Palm Beach County got more than 10 inches of rain in three days, and flood advisories have been on and off across Broward and Palm Beach. The water district says tides along the east coast this week may approach the National Weather Service's minor flooding level.

That combination matters. When rain falls during a high tide, storm drains can't empty into canals that are already full. Cities call it compound flooding, and it's why some streets hold water for hours.

How Bad Will It Be?

Palm Beach County says 2026 king tides aren't predicted to reach flood stage on their own. But the county also says storms and wind can push water higher than forecast. And in Broward, streets start flooding at a lower level than the official flood number. The county uses a local threshold about half a foot below the National Weather Service figure, because that's when roads actually go under. Fort Lauderdale's mayor wrote that NOAA predicts king tides there on at least 40 days this year.

You Don't Have to Live on the Water

A lot of people are surprised by this. Most storm drains in cities like Pompano Beach flow into canals that connect to tidal waterways. When those canals are high, inland streets can flood too, even miles from the beach. If your street floods for hours after an October rain but drains in 20 minutes in March, that's why.

Coastal cities from Hallandale Beach to Deerfield Beach, and from Boca Raton to Jupiter along the Intracoastal and Lake Worth Lagoon, all see it. Fort Lauderdale points to Victoria Park, the Southeast Isles and Middle River Terrace as neighborhoods it's working on.

What Actually Helps

• Plan around the window. Check the tide time before you head out.
• Don't drive through saltwater. It's dangerous and it's hard on your car.
• Bring your trash cans in. A floating can can block a storm drain.
• Clear your swales and drains. Blocked drains make flooding last longer.
• Boaters, check bridge clearance before you leave the dock.
• Sign up for alerts. The water district sends a weekly tidal outlook by email, and its Resilience Metrics Hub has daily forecasts for Port Everglades and Lake Worth.

What This Means for Homeowners and Buyers

• Know your flood zone. Standard homeowners and renters policies don't cover flood damage. You need a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. Congress extended the NFIP through December 11, 2026.
• If you're buying: Visit the home during a king tide window if you can. Ask about seawall condition, past flooding and flood insurance cost before you make an offer.
• If you're selling: Florida sellers now have to disclose certain flood history and insurance claims. Talk to your agent about what applies to your home.
• Fort Lauderdale residents can request a Flood Risk Information Letter from the city's floodplain manager at 954-828-6133.

Questions About Flood Risk and Your Home?

Whether you're buying near the water or wondering how flooding affects your home's value, I'm happy to help. Call or text me at (561) 289-9305 or email chris@homesbycusi.com.

Sources: South Florida Water Management District Weekly King Tide Forecast (September 21, 2026) and 2026 King Tide Season Forecast; City of Fort Lauderdale; City of Hollywood; Palm Beach County; City of Pompano Beach; NAHB (September 4, 2026); The Florida Press (September 21, 2026); The Friendly Scoop, "King Tides 2026: The Dates South Florida Floods on a Sunny Day" (thefriendlyscoop.com/news/king-tides-2026-broward-palm-beach-dates).