The 2026 king tide season is starting, and the South Florida Water Management District (District) is publishing weekly Tidal Outlooks. These outlooks will be shared weekly throughout the season. The updates are intended to inform interested stakeholders and the public.
King tides are driven by variations in the strength and direction of the moon's gravitational pull, especially during new and full moon phases in the fall. The king tide outlooks provide information on conditions – such as wind strength and direction, and ocean currents – that can cause tides to rise or fall beyond predicted levels.
There are approximately 700 miles of shoreline and more than 40 gravity coastal structures upstream of tidally influenced canals. Alongside rainfall and storm surge, high tide events also contribute to flood risks in South Florida.
High Tides are predicted to peak along South Florida's coast during the following days (peaks vary by location). During these periods, high tides may approach or exceed one or more of the National Weather Service (NWS) flood thresholds in parts of the region.
East Coast
- August 11-14, 2026 (New Moon)
- September 8-15, 2026 (New Moon)
- September 24-October 15, 2026 (Full Moon and New Moon)
- October 22-November 12, 2026 (Full Moon* and New Moon)
- November 22-29, 2026 (Full Moon)
- December 22-27, 2026 (Full Moon)
*Annual Maximum Predicted Peak(s): October 27, 2026
Florida Keys
- August 7-21, 2026 (New Moon)
- August 24-November 17, 2026 (August Full Moon, September New and Full Moon, October New and Full Moon*, November New Moon)
- November 19-December 1, 2026 (Full Moon)
- December 4-13, 2026 (New Moon)
- December 21-27, 2026 (Full Moon)
*Annual Maximum Predicted Peak(s): October 28 and 30, 2026
West Coast
- August 10-14, 2026 (New Moon*)
- August 27-28, 2026 (Full Moon)
- September 8-11, 2026 (New Moon)
- September 29-October 1, 2026 (Full Moon)
- October 27-29, 2026 (Full Moon)
*Annual Maximum Predicted Peak(s): August 12, 2026
Enhanced Tidal Forecast in Partnership with University of Miami
The South Florida Water Management District partnered with the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science to develop refined and locally customized tide predictions based on NOAA tide predictions. These enhanced predictions, featured in the Weekly Tidal Outlook Forecast, incorporate dynamic model inputs that account for sea level rise, meteorological conditions, and oceanic factors including wind, wind direction, sea surface temperature, and swell energy.
Automated king tide forecasts are now accessible through SFWMD’s Resilience Metrics Hub for the following seven tidal stations along South Florida’s east and west coasts:
- Virginia Key
- Port Everglades
- Lake Worth
- Key West
- Vaca Key
- Naples/Naples Bay North
- Fort Myers
View the map that corresponds to the seven tidal stations here.
WEEKLY TIDAL OUTLOOK FORECAST
To subscribe to receive these weekly updates, please visit our email signup page, enter your email address and check the "King Tide Forecast” option.