Storm Surge/Tide in Coastal Dade, Florida

Hurricane Wilma produced a maximum measured storm tide of 8 feet at the USGS tide gauge at the Turner River near Chokoloskee in southern Collier County, with a storm surge of 7 feet after subtracting a 1 foot astronomical tide. Significant damage to structures close to the water was observed in Chokoloskee, along with some washing out of part of the road leading to the town. A storm tide of 7 feet was estimated in Marco Island by Collier County Emergency Management, along with significant beach erosion. An NWS survey team estimated a storm tide of 4 feet in Everglades City based on debris line heights, with little structural damage. The NOS tide gauge in Naples recorded a maximum storm tide of 4.8 feet, with a storm surge of 3.8 feet after considering astronomical tide levels. The maximum storm surge values with Hurricane Wilma likely occurred south of Chokoloskee in Mainland Monroe County were heights of 13-18 feet were forecast.In Miami-Dade County, the NOS tide gauge at Virginia Key recorded a maximum storm tide of 4.8 feet, with a storm surge of 4.0 feet after subtracting an astronomical tide of 0.8 feet. Minor flooding was noted along Biscayne Bay, mainly in the Coconut Grove, Downtown Miami, and Northeast Miami areas.