King tides expected from Thursday

Published: 24th March 2026. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

King tides are expected to affect Cairns for a week from Thursday 26 March to Thursday 2 April, with the highest tides forecast across Sunday 29 March and Monday 30 March.

Peak tides are expected to reach 3.24 metres on both days.

During king tides, seawater can flow onto roads, footpaths and private property, potentially causing damage to vehicles and infrastructure. Saltwater flooding can damage cars immediately on contact.

Residents and visitors are urged to:

Avoid parking vehicles in known low‑lying or tidal‑affected areas
Never drive through floodwaters
Exercise caution when travelling near the coast and tidal creeks.

Motorists are reminded to drive slowly and carefully to reduce bow waves, which can push water deeper into nearby homes and businesses.

The potential impacts of king tides may be intensified by forecast high rainfall, which could worsen flooding during this period.

Forecast king tide levels for Cairns (times and heights may vary for other locations):

Thursday 26 March: 2.8m at 5.04am
Friday 27 March: 3.01m at 5.58am
Saturday 28 March: 3.16m at 6.41am
Sunday 29 March: 3.24m at 7.19am
Monday 30 March: 3.24m at 7.53am
Tuesday 31 March: 3.17m at 8.21am and 2.8m at 8.33pm
Wednesday 1 April: 3.04m at 8.45am and 2.81m at 9.02pm
Thursday 2 April: 2.87m at 9.04am

To protect public safety and private property, Council may temporarily close roads affected by tidal flooding. Motorists must obey all road closure signage and find alternative routes until conditions improve.