Cairns Regional Council says all of the forecast high tides will occur at night. The highest is expected on Wednesday 9 September, reaching about 3.26 metres at 8.29pm.
The forecast begins with a 2.93-metre tide at 6.32pm on Sunday. It rises to 3.12 metres on Monday and 3.24 metres on Tuesday, before easing to 3.19 metres on Thursday and 3.02 metres on Friday. Council notes that times and heights may vary.
Seawater can move onto roads, footpaths and private property during king tides. Council warns that heavy rainfall could increase the flooding risk and that salt water can damage vehicles on contact.
People are advised not to park in known tidal or low-lying areas, never to drive through floodwater, and to use extra caution near the coast and tidal creeks. Drivers should slow down where water is present to avoid bow waves pushing water towards nearby properties.
Roads may be temporarily closed if tidal flooding creates a safety risk. Areas Council identifies as more likely to be affected include streets in Portsmith as well as parts of the Cairns Esplanade, Cairns City and Cairns North. Motorists should obey closure signs and use an alternative route.
Residents can monitor Bureau of Meteorology tide information and the Cairns Disaster Dashboard for updated weather warnings.
Source: Cairns Regional Council, published 4 September 2026.
Illustration disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration and is not a photograph of the reported tide event.
