JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — High tide will keep pushing salt water into low spots along the Jacksonville coast for the rest of the workweek. Forecasters on Tuesday extended a coastal flood warning for coastal Duval, Nassau, St. Johns and Flagler counties until 2 a.m. Friday, along with a high surf advisory and a high rip current risk.
The National Weather Service office in Jacksonville expects moderate flooding around each high tide. Its warning says numerous roads may be closed and that water will cover low-lying homes and businesses and reach some critical infrastructure, with some shoreline erosion. Breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet are forecast in the surf zone.
This is the second nor’easter to grind against the Florida coast in about two weeks. High pressure parked over the eastern half of the country and a low forming over the southwestern Atlantic are keeping a steady northeast wind blowing onshore, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph possible east of Interstate 95. Gale conditions are likely offshore, and small boats should stay in port.
The timing makes it worse. The storm lines up with the king tides, the highest astronomical tides of the season, so parking lots, docks and other low ground tend to flood first. Drivers who end up in tidal water should wash their vehicles thoroughly, since salt water corrodes metal and wiring.
Swimmers should stay out of the ocean. The weather service says inexperienced swimmers should remain on the sand, and anyone caught in a rip current should float and swim parallel to shore rather than fight it.
More king tide stretches are expected Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 and Nov. 23 to Nov. 26. Warmer weather and a chance of storms should arrive as the pattern shifts over the weekend, and anyone putting out Halloween decorations should tie them down first.
Filed under: Jacksonville FL Weather News
