King tides expected in Cairns from Sunday

Published: 4th September 2026. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

King tides are expected to affect Cairns from Sunday 6 September to Friday 11 September.

These king tides are all expected to occur at night, with the highest tide of 3.26m forecast for Wednesday 9 September.

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

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.

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

Sunday 6 September: 2.93m at 6.32pm
Monday 7 September: 3.12m at 7.15pm
Tuesday 8 September: 3.24m at 7.54pm
Wednesday 9 September: 3.26m at 8.29pm
Thursday 10 September: 3.19m at 9pm
Friday 11 September: 3.02m at 9.27pm

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.