King tides, northeast winds trigger flooding across Northeast Florida coast – News4JAX

King tides, northeast winds trigger flooding across Northeast Florida coast  News4JAX

King tides and strong northeast winds are causing significant flooding concerns across Northeast Florida, with impacts that a National Weather Service forecaster says resemble those of a tropical storm. Coastal flooding warnings have been extended through Wednesday, with communities in St. Johns, Nassau, Duval and Flagler counties listed among the most vulnerable areas. A king tide is an unusually high tide that, on its own, can cause flooding in low-lying and coastal areas. When combined with rain and strong winds, the effects can be amplified significantly — impacting not just beaches, but neighborhoods, roadways and areas near rivers and waterways. Jacksonville’s Southbank neighborhood is among the areas considered especially vulnerable.

Its proximity to the St. Johns River puts it at risk of tidal flooding even during dry weather conditions. The flooding is already affecting daily life for some residents. Cindy Wallace Bayly captured images from her home on Coquina Avenue showing neighbors using kayaks to reach their homes. Wallace Bayly said she experienced about two hours of flooding during high tide the previous night and was already beginning to see water rising again the following morning. In Fernandina Beach, the city shared photos over the weekend showing flooding along Front and Center streets, with water visibly rising up along the train tracks in that area. In St. Augustine, City Hall