Monroe County’s official 2025 guidance lists multiple windows when the highest seasonal tides are expected this fall, including early to mid-October, early November, late November and early December. During these periods, tides may approach the National Weather Service’s “minor flooding” threshold in parts of the Keys.

The South Florida Water Management District launched a weekly “Tidal Outlook” in early September and continues to share updates every Monday on expected tide levels for South Florida and the Keys.

Local coordination has included weather briefings shared by Key Colony Beach on October 10, warning that heavy rainfall on top of king-tides could temporarily flood streets in the usual low spots and make some roads impassable.

Sea level at Key West has been rising for more than a century, at roughly 2.6 mm per year, which means several inches of rise since the 1970s—changing the baseline so ordinary high tides now reach flood thresholds more often.

County emergency managers continue to advise residents and businesses to watch official alerts, avoid driving through saltwater on flooded streets, and consider short-term protections like removable barriers in recurrent trouble spots, while longer-term drainage and road-elevation projects are evaluated.

With roughly 80,000 year-round residents who rely on tourism and fishing, the Florida Keys remain highly vulnerable to repeated flooding and salt-water intrusion. Officials plan to compare October’s observed water levels with earlier projections to evaluate forecast accuracy ahead of the next major tide window in early December.

As the 2025 king-tide season continues, local agencies are reminding residents to stay alert for advisories and to prepare for temporary disruptions. For many in Monroe County, this year’s tides serve as both a warning and a call for long-term resilience planning in a region literally living at the edge of rising seas.