King tide reigns over the flooded streets

Streets across Florida went underwater Sunday as king tides and early rain swamped the region.

And the not-so-royal treatment will likely continue into Monday.

Drivers in Miami Beach, Wynwood, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale cascaded through the water over the weekend, meeting it with a mix of rage (from a flooded shop) to humor (a neighbor who posted a no-wake sign).

READ MORE: The spots most likely to flood

The rising tide could result in fresh flooding on Monday morning, when more cars and people hit the road for work and school. And Sunday’s sogginess “could cause more problems when the tide rises again,” National Weather Service meteorologist Ian Lee said.

Lee said the rain chance was 60 percent Sunday but will drop to 30 percent Monday and 40 percent Tuesday.

The king tides are expected to reach their peak on Sunday night and Monday morning, bringing water levels between three and a third and three and a half feet higher than usual in coastal Miami areas, according to the National Weather Service.

The heavy Saturday night and Sunday rains combined with the annual high tides to create mini-flood zones across South Florida. Some Wynwood corners, especially those with vacant lots, could have passed for ponds. Las Olas Boulevard also saw sidewalks and streets at levels that soaked pant legs.

Rip current and coastal flooding advisories are in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Around noon on Sunday, Miami Beach police removed cones placed around flooded areas Saturday night intended to prevent drivers from sloshing through.

Along 18th Street in South Beach, TKS Miami owner Morgan Blittner found himself squeegeeing the floor of his kayaking and surfing store at 1784 West Ave. Miami Beach’s pumps turned on too late, Blittner said, and didn’t prevent several inches of rain from pooling on his store’s floor. The pumps also malfunctioned on Oct. 3.

Said Blittner: “We cannot run a business like this.”

For those who are still thinking of heading to the beach this week, local officials are urging caution. Beachgoers should wear shoes or sandals to avoid being injured by debris swept ashore during the king tide, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Erika Benitez in an e-mail. King tides often flip over garbage cans on public beaches, and visitors should be on the lookout for nails, broken glass and other potentially dangerous items. Benitez also cautioned parents to keep their children out of the water during king tides.

This story was originally published October 16, 2016 at 3:03 PM with the headline "King tide reigns over the flooded streets."