Flood Watch: 3 to 5 inches of rain possible on the islands through Monday
Repeated bands of heavy rain could flood streets from South Beach to Sunny Isles, on top of high tides and a coastal flood advisory that runs to 7 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service in Miami has put all of Miami-Dade County, including Miami Beach and the barrier-island towns, under a Flood Watch from 10 a.m. Sunday through 3 p.m. Monday, warning that repeated bands of heavy rain could flood streets.
An upper-level low parked over Florida is pulling in moisture, the weather service said. Scattered spots along the east coast could get 3 to 5 inches of rain through Monday, and isolated spots 5 to 7 inches, possibly within a few hours. The watch warns of isolated to scattered flash flooding, mainly flooded streets and road closures, with limited effects on buildings in flood-prone areas.
Rain on top of high tides
The rain is arriving during a stretch of high tides. A coastal flood advisory for coastal Miami-Dade remains in effect until 7 p.m. Monday, with minor to moderate flooding of lots, parks and roads and only isolated road closures expected, according to the weather service. Flooding could be worse than forecast if the heaviest rain falls near the coast at high tide, it said.
High tide at Government Cut is at 1:18 p.m. Sunday, according to NOAA predictions. Low tide follows at 7:35 p.m.
The forecast calls for a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday, with a high near 83 and east winds gusting to 24 mph. Another 1 to 2 inches could fall Sunday night, and Monday brings another 90% chance of storms.
Beaches and what to do
The weather service also warns of dangerous rip currents through Monday evening. It advises swimming only near a lifeguard, and if caught in a rip current, floating rather than fighting it and swimming parallel to shore.
On the roads, the weather service says to allow extra travel time, never drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth, and take steps now to protect flood-prone property. Residents in low-lying areas should be ready to act if a Flood Warning is issued.
The city already called off Sunday’s French Market at South Pointe Park because of the forecast. Early voting for Tuesday’s election ends Sunday; the city’s two sites, City Hall at 1700 Convention Center Drive and the North Shore Branch Library at 7501 Collins Ave., are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Live beach cams are at redsidewalks.com/cams.
Sources
- National Weather Service Miami — active alerts for Miami Beach (Flood Watch, Coastal Flood Advisory, Rip Current Statement)
- National Weather Service — Miami Beach forecast
- NOAA Tides & Currents — Miami Beach, Government Cut (8723170) predictions
- City of Miami Beach on X — early voting ends Nov. 1
- City of Miami Beach events calendar — early voting, Nov. 1
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