Heavy rains across South Florida as king tides roll in

MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Heavy rains and high tides made for a soggy Saturday night in parts of South Florida.

In Miami Beach, water pumps were functioning at full power at the intersection of the Venetian Causeway and Purdy Avenue. Cars waded through the water as area residents braced for the king tides.

Saturday night, all lanes at the intersection of 20th Street and Alton Road, on South Beach, were flooded.  At the end of Lincoln Road, on the bay side, the lower level of a parking garage also became flooded.

The previous night, Miami Beach resident Zena Samandar said she’s felt the effects of the king tide first hand. When asked if the water has reached her residence, she replied, “My house, no, but my car’s rims are all rusted.”

City officials continue to keep residents informed about the rising tides via email alerts.

Resident Cynthia Latham kept a sense of humor about the matter. “We never know when it’s coming, so you just always have to read your emails, ’cause they always warn us,” she said. “The king tides are coming! Run for your lives!”

Residents said the impact of the king tide is not as bad compared to years past.

Several road projects in South Beach are helping to keep some of the water at bay. “I want to say, after renovations, it’s been pretty nice,” said Samandar, “because I haven’t experienced it yet.”

This isn’t the only spot where the high tides caused water woes for drivers. In Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Friday, the sound of water overtook Las Olas Boulevard and businesses stacked sandbags to stay dry.

Earlier in the day, Friday, the king tide pushed water in block after block along Las Olas.

Back in Miami, vehicles and people slowly maneuvered through the seawater as pumps worked at full speed along the Venetian Causeway.

Along Northeast 79th Street, motorists faced a tricky drive as water rushed in from canals. In North Bay Village, water from the bay slapped against the sea wall and spilled on shore.

And along Lincoln Road, a 7News viewer captured the water coming through a manhole soon after she woke up, Friday morning.

The king tide in Miami Beach rolled in at around 9 p.m., Saturday, and flooding is expected in the area until early Sunday morning.

The rising waters coincide with the onset of the supermoon over South Florida.

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