A phenomenon known as "king tides" — a higher than normal tide caused by a full or new moon — is getting worse in Miami because of sea-level rise caused by human-induced climate change, The Washington Post reported.
In an analysis, the Post reported Miami set daily high tide records for more than a week straight for the period between late July and early August, though there were no storms.
Sunny day coastal flooding is now routine when the sun and moon line up just right, the Post reported.
"These [king tides] happen several times a year, and they can really cause problems for residents," central Florida meteorologist Irene Sans for WFTV said, the Post reported. "This is salt water mixed with sewage."
According to University of Miami researcher Brian McNoldy, recent king tides have rivaled some hurricanes when it comes to peak water levels, the Post reported.
One analysis shows there was a 5.9-inch sea-level rise in Miami since 1996, the Post reported.
And Climate Central, a nonprofit organization specializing in communicating climate science, paints a grim picture for Miami's future, estimating $5.7 billion in residential property value is at risk of being flooded by 2050 in just Miami Beach alone.
"Some areas in the Keys no longer offer permits to build," Sans has written, according to the Post.
"Parts of Miami are no longer offering long-term mortgages. Let's say I buy along the coast — I have to deal with sunny day flooding. If I buy in the suburbs, then by the time I finish paying my mortgage off, I'll likely be dealing with a serious flooding situation. Who's going to buy my house then?"
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