CAIRNS residents are being advised to brace themselves for king tides, which are set to occur from Wednesday, 6 March, through to 13 March, peaking on Sunday, 10 March.
Cairns Regional Council emphasised the potential risks associated with tidal flooding, particularly the damage that saltwater can inflict on vehicles.
To mitigate this risk, residents are urged to avoid parking cars in low-lying tidal areas and never attempt to drive through floodwaters.
“Motorists should drive carefully and slowly, not only for the safety of road users and pedestrians, but to lessen the impact of bow waves, which can push water into nearby properties,” a council spokesperson said.
In response to tidal flooding, council may opt to close inundated roads to safeguard private property from damage.
Motorists are reminded to adhere to road closure signs and seek alternative routes until affected roads are reopened.
The impact of king tides on low-lying areas may be compounded by heavy rainfall.
The anticipated king tide levels for Cairns are as follows (times may vary for other areas):
- Wednesday, March 6: 2.96m at 6:52 am
- Thursday, March 7: 3.21m at 7:39 am
- Friday, March 8: 3.42m at 8:05 am
- Saturday, March 9: 3.54m at 8:42 am and 2.91m at 8:39 pm
- Sunday, March 10: 3.55m at 9:16 am and 2.98m at 9:19 pm
- Monday, March 11: 3.42m at 9:49 am and 2.96m at 10:01 pm
- Tuesday, March 12: 3.16m at 10:22 am and 2.84m at 10:47 pm
- Wednesday, March 13: 2.8m at 10:55 am
Streets most susceptible to king tide impacts include:
- Redden St, Portsmith
- Tingira St, Portsmith
- Liberty St, Portsmith
- Walters St, Portsmith
- Trawler Base Rd, Portsmith
- Bramp Cl, Portsmith
- Cook St, Portsmith
- Fearnley St, Portsmith
- Parts of Aumuller St (near Comport St), Portsmith
Residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions during this period of heightened tidal activity.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Cairns police kept busy over the weekend and Local stories of resilience to present before production.
