LTC 063-2011 Anticipated High Tides M IAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
063-2011 R° .
NO. LTC # LETTER TO CONAAJ
toy
TO: M: or M tti He rera Bower d Members of the City Commission
FROM: J • ge M. Gonzalez, City Ma er elcS OF F ICE
DATE: March 17, 2011
SUBJECT: Anticipated High Tides
The purpose of this LTC is to advise you on the potential limited flooding that might occur from
March 17 through March 23 as a result of seasonal high tides, in combination with a unique
lunar cycle.
BACKGROUND
Beginning this Thursday, the City is expecting tides that are above normal. These high tides are
primarily due to fluctuations related to the lunar cycle, in which the moon influences the sea
level with its gravitational pull. This pull increases with the moon's proximity to the Earth during
the autumnal and spring equinoxes. More specifically, the March full moon falls on the same
day as "perigee" — the moon's closest day to the earth for the month. Full moons bring higher -
than -usual tides, and perigee full moons bring the highest (and lowest).
As you know, the City of Miami Beach, which is located on a barrier island, is vulnerable to the
impacts of these high tides. Low -lying areas that are especially prone to tidal flooding are Purdy
Ave between Dade Blvd and 20th Street; the west side of Palm Island; and Alton Road and
West Avenue, particularly at 5 Street, 6 Street, 10 Street, and 14 Street.
While the high tides are not expected to be as severe as those that the City experienced in
October 2010, which averaged around 3.5 ft and peaked at 3.7 ft; it is anticipated that this
weekend the high tides will average 2.7 ft and peak at 3.0 ft Sunday night (please see
Attachment).
It is likely that the City will experience some short -term flooding in its low lying areas. However,
at this time staff does not anticipate that any driving lanes will need to close unless there is also
significant rainfall during the peak tide timeframes. As you can see from the attached extended
forecast, at present the forecast appears to anticipate little to no rainfall.
In the coming days, the Public Works Department will check all the installed tidal flexible check
valves to verify that they are operating correctly, and during the periods of high tides our storm
water crews will be on standby. Further, staff will contact FDOT to have them ready to respond
to 52 Street and North Bay Road and other state roads that can be affected.
We will be closely monitoring the situation and will keep you advised of any changes.
Attachment
NOAA Tide Predictions: March — Miami Harbor Entrance
DRB /FHB /HDC /FAV /RWS
F: \work \$ALL \(1) EMPLOYEE FOLDERS \Rick Saltrick \LTC's \High Tides.docx
2011 NOAA Tide Predictions:
March - Miami Harbor Entrance
Date Day Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
03/01/2011 Tue 06:21AM LST 2.1 H 12:04PM LST 0.1 L 06:33PM LST 2.1 H
03/02/2011 Wed 12:24AM LST -0.2 L 07:04AM LST 2.2 H 12:48PM LST 0.0 L 07:17PM LST 2.2 H
03/03/2011 Thu 01:07AM LST -0.2 L 07:41AM LST 2.2 H 01:28PM LST -0.1 L 07:57PM LST 2.3 H
03/04/2011 Fri 01:46AM LST -0.2 L 08:16AM LST 2.3 H 02:04PM LST -0.2 L 08:34PM LST 2.3 H
03/05/2011 Sat 02:22AM LST -0.2 L 08:50AM LST 2.3 H 02:39PM LST -0.2 L 09:10PM LST 2.3 H
03/06/2011 Sun 02:57AM LST -0.1 L 09:23AM LST 2.3 H 03:12PM LST -0.2 L 09:45PM LST 2.3 H
03/07/2011 Mon 03:30AM LST 0.0 L 09:56AM LST 2.2 H 03:44PM LST -0.2 L 10:21PM LST 2.3 H
03/08/2011 Tue 04:03AM LST 0.0 L 10:29AM LST 2.2 H 04:17PM LST -0.1 L 10:59PM LST 2.2 H
03/09/2011 Wed 04:36AM LST 0.1 L 11:03AM LST 2.1 H 04:52PM LST -0.1 L 11:38PM LST 2.1 H
03/10/2011 Thu 05:13AM LST 0.3 L 11:40AM LST 2.0 H 05:32PM LST 0.0 L
03/11/2011 Fri 12:23AM LST 2.0 H 05:57AM LST 0.4 L 12:22PM LST 1.9 H 06:21PM LST 0.0 L
03/12/2011 Sat 01:15AM LST 1.9 H 06:51AM LST 0.4 L 01:14PM LST 1.9 H 07:20PM LST 0.1 L
03/13/2011 Sun 03:15AM LDT 1.9 H 08:57AM LDT 0.5 L 03:20PM LDT 1.9 H 09:29PM LDT 0.1 L
03/14/2011 Mon 04:22AM LDT 2.0 H 10:07AM LDT 0.4 L 04:33PM LDT 1.9 H 10:37PM LDT 0.0 L
03/15/2011 Tue 05:27AM LDT 2.1 H 11:13AM LDT 0.2 L 05:44PM LDT 2.1 H 11:40PM LDT -0.1 L
03/16/2011 Wed 06:27AM LDT 2.3 H 12:11PM LDT 0.0 L 06:47PM LDT 2.3 H
03/17/2011 Thu 12:38AM LDT -0.3 L 07:20AM LDT 2.4 H 01:05PM LDT -0.3 L 07:45PM LDT 2.6 H
03/18/2011 Fri 01:32AM LDT -0.4 L 08:10AM LDT 2.6 H 01:56PM LDT -0.5 L 08:38PM LDT 2.8 H
03/19/2011 Sat 02:23AM LDT -0.5 L 08:59AM LDT 2.7 H 02:45PM LDT -0.7 L 09:29PM LDT 2.9 H
03/20/2011 Sun 03:12AM LDT -0.5 L 09:46AM LDT 2.8 H 03:34PM LDT -0.8 L 10:19PM LDT 3.0 H
03/21/2011 Mon 04:02AM LDT -0.5 L 10:33AM LDT 2.8 H 04:23PM LDT -0.8 L 11:09PM LDT 2.9 H
03/22/2011 Tue 04:52AM LDT -0.4 L 11:21AM LDT 2.7 H 05:14PM LDT -0.7 L
03/23/2011 Wed 12:OOAM LDT 2.8 H 05:44AM LDT -0.2 L 12:11PM LDT 2.6 H 06:07PM LDT -0.5 L
03/24/2011 Thu 12:52AM LDT 2.6 H 06:38AM LDT 0.0 L 01:04PM LDT 2.4 H 07:04PM LDT -0.3 L
03/25/2011 Fri 01:48AM LDT 2.4 H 07 :38AM LDT 0.2 L 02:O1PM LDT 2.2 H 08:06PM LDT -0.1 L
03/26/2011 Sat 02:49AM LDT 2.2 H 08:42AM LDT 0.3 L 03:03PM LDT 2.1 H 09:12PM LDT 0.1 L
03/27/2011 Sun 03:53AM LDT 2.1 H 09:49AM LDT 0.4 L 04:11PM LDT 2.0 H 10:18PM LDT 0.1 L
03/28/2011 Mon 04:57AM LDT 2.1 H 10:52AM LDT 0.4 L 05:17PM LDT 2.0 H 11:18PM LDT 0.2 L
03/29/2011 Tue 05:56AM LDT 2.1 H 11:48AM LDT 0.3 L 06:17PM LDT 2.1 H
03/30/2011 Wed 12:11AM LDT 0.2 L
06:45AM LDT 2.1 H 12:36PM LDT 0.2 L 07:07PM LDT 2.2 H
03/31/2011 Thu 12:58AM LDT 0.1 L 07:28AM LDT 2.2 H 01:18PM LDT 0.1 L 07:50PM LDT 2.3 H
All times are listed in Local Standard Time(LST) or, Local Daylight Time (LDT) (when applicable). All heights are in feet referenced to
Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW).
http: / /tidesandcurrents. noaa .gov /cgi- bin/getpredictions.cgi ?year =2011 &stn =2498 Miami... 03/15/2011
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10 -Day Forecast for Miami Beach, FL (33139)
NEW: Larger Radar Maps & No Ads
High / Precip.
Low ( °F) cyo
Tonight Partly Cloudy 67° 10
Mar 15
Wed Mostly Sunny 79 °/68° 10
Mar 16
Thu Sunny 80 0 /68° 0
Mar 17
Fri Mostly Sunny 77 °/66° 10
Mar 18
Sat Mostly Sunny 77 °/66° 10
Mar 19
Sun Partly Cloudy 76 °/68° 10
Mar 20
Mon Partly Cloudy 78 °/69° 0
Mar 21
Tue Partly Cloudy 78 °/69° 20
Mar 22
Wed
Mar 23 Mostly Sunny 79 °/68° 10
Thu Sunny 79 °/67° 0 %
Mar 24
Last Updated Mar 15 03:13 p.m. ET
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