Miami Beach flood history
1,000 days with roads at risk since 1996
Record high water
5.81 ft
Sep 10, 2017 · 230 roads at risk
Days a year
~44
average since 1996
Most recent
Sep 30, 2026
3.69 ft · 29 roads at risk
On the map
The biggest days
Sep 10, 2017: 230 roads at risk5.81 ft at the Virginia Key gauge · 3.2 ft above the tide tables · deepest: Severe · model estimate
Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions.
1996–2026
Days with roads at risk, by year
Since 1996
Highest water
| Date | High water · Virginia Key | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.81 ft | +3.17 ft | 230Severe | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.53 ft | +1.71 ft | 150Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.35 ft | +1.64 ft | 132Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.32 ft | +1.60 ft | 132Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.29 ft | +1.59 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.26 ft | +1.38 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.26 ft | +1.67 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.26 ft | +1.16 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.25 ft | +1.44 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.24 ft | +1.39 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road |
Latest verified
Most recent days
| Date | High water · Virginia Key | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.69 ft | +0.92 ft | 29Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 3.97 ft | +1.14 ft | 60Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.24 ft | +1.39 ft | 112Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.53 ft | +1.71 ft | 150Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road | |
| 4.35 ft | +1.64 ft | 132Likely | Venetian Way, 5th Street, Alton Road |
Every day, every year
Browse by year
About this data: method, sources and free downloads
Since 1996, NOAA's Virginia Key tide gauge has recorded water high enough for FloodRoute's model to put at least one Miami Beach road at risk on 1,000 days, about 44 a year. The highest water was 5.81 ft on Sunday, September 10, 2017, 3.17 ft above the tide tables; at that level the model estimates 230 Miami Beach roads were at risk, including Venetian Way, 5th Street and Alton Road.
For every day since 1996 we take NOAA's verified highest observed water at the tide gauge, adjust it to the town's prediction station exactly as the live forecast does (the gauge's departure from the tide tables, minus the departure already built into our calibration), and run FloodRoute's flood model on today's road network and street elevations. A day counts when at least one road in the town is at or below that water level by the model's rules. Rain is not included, so wet days were likely worse.
Gauge: NOAA 8723214 (Virginia Key). Heights are feet above MLLW.
Free to use under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. Credit: FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding.
Cite as: FloodRoute (2026). Miami Beach, FL king tide flood history (model estimates). https://floodroute.com/fl/miami-beach/history. Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0.
FAQ
Miami Beach flood history: questions, answered
How often do roads flood at high tide in Miami Beach?
By FloodRoute's estimate, at least one Miami Beach road was at risk on 1,000 days between 1996 and Sep 30, 2026, about 44 a year. Most of those days are shallow water on a few low streets; the biggest days put dozens of roads at risk.
What was the highest tide in Miami Beach since 1996?
Sunday, September 10, 2017: NOAA's Virginia Key tide gauge recorded 5.81 ft (MLLW), 3.17 ft above the tide tables. At that level FloodRoute's model estimates 230 Miami Beach roads were at risk, including Venetian Way, 5th Street and Alton Road.
When did a high tide last put Miami Beach roads at risk?
The most recent day in the verified record is Wednesday, September 30, 2026: 3.69 ft at the Virginia Key gauge, 29 roads at risk. NOAA verifies data with a lag of a month or two; the live forecast covers today and the weeks ahead.
Is this a record of actual flooding in Miami Beach?
No. Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions. Neighbor flood reports in the FloodRoute app are the ground truth we use to check and improve the model.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Download it as CSV or JSON under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0, with attribution to FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding. More on the open data page.
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