Late-October King Tides 2026: What Docks and Seawalls Will Face

King tide season has a second peak in late October, and this year it is the big one. The South Florida Water Management District's 2026 King Tide Season Forecast lists an elevated-tide period from October 22 to November 12, with the annual maximum predicted peak on October 27. NOAA tide predictions put the highest tide of 2026 at 3.65 feet on the Miami Beach gauge on October 27.

This article covers the high-water dates, what the water does to coastal neighborhoods, and the checks to make on your dock and seawall while the water is high enough to show problems.

The SFWMD forecast for the east coast shows the second elevated-tide window running October 22 to November 12, anchored by the full moon on October 26 and the new moon in early November. The peak days are around October 27. Palm Beach County's annual maximum predicted peak also falls on October 27, with some stations peaking October 28 or 30.

NOAA tide predictions put the late-October peak window at roughly October 24 to 31, with the highest tides of that window on October 26 and 27. The highest water comes with the afternoon and evening high tides, so the worst hours are shorter than they first look.

Water at this level can exceed National Weather Service coastal flood thresholds, causing minor to moderate coastal and street flooding in low-lying areas for about three hours around high tide. Rainfall, wind, and already-high groundwater make it worse, and the SFWMD notes that east coast levels may remain above the moderate flooding threshold during the peak period.

In Broward and Palm Beach, the practical effects for waterfront owners are salt water in storm drains, flooded launch ramps and dock parking, water lapping at seawall caps, and slower drainage after rain on top of high water.

King tides put water against your wall at a level it reaches only a few days a year. That makes late October the time to watch low walls: whether water tops the cap, whether it seeps through joints or cracks, and whether any low spot on the lawn floods first.

This is also a useful test of how close your wall is to the elevations today's standards call for. Broward requires new walls, replacements, and major repairs to be built higher, so a wall that barely holds back October's water is worth planning around before a repair becomes urgent.

Higher water means less clearance under fixed bridges, stronger tidal currents in inlets, and, in some neighborhoods, flooded dock parking. If you run fixed bridges, time crossings for lower water. Check that dock lines have enough slack for the full tidal range, and confirm your bilge pumps and batteries are ready in case water finds a low spot.

One warning: king tides are the wrong moment to judge how deep your slip is. High water makes every slip look deep. Measure depth at low tide, and confirm the boat and the lift still clear the bottom then.

Walk the seawall at high water and take photos of the waterline along your wall, your neighbors' walls, and the street. Note any spot where water comes over or through the wall. Check dock cleats, lines, and fenders, and confirm the lift clears the boat at low tide with the boat on it.

Keep the photos. A dated high-water photo record is useful if flood insurance, permits, or a future repair ever need evidence of how high water gets at your property.

King tide timing varies by station, so check the tide predictions for your exact inlet, pier, or neighborhood before you plan around them. The SFWMD publishes the east coast king tide forecast each week during the season.

For Broward property owners, the City of Hollywood publishes the NOAA peak king tide dates for the county's coast.

To request free resources about dredging, call (561) 299-1323 or email slselleck@gmail.com. Tell us about your dock, slip, or waterway and we will help you understand what it needs.