The storm surge in South Florida was not as high as it would have been had the hurricane struck another area, owing to the deep offshore continental shelf, which reduced the energy needed to sustain a large surge.
However, along Biscayne Bay, the hurricane produced a substantial storm surge; visual estimates suggested a peak height of 14–15 ft (4.3–4.6 m) in Coconut Grove, and a value of 11.7 feet (3.6 m) occurred at Dinner Key, equal to the observation at Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami.
In fact, the storm surge measured in the 1926 hurricane was the highest ever officially documented on the east coast of South Florida until observers recorded a height of 16.89 ft (5.1 m) at the Burger King International Headquarters near Cutler in Dade County during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The hurricane's high storm surge swept into Miami and Miami Beach, flooding city streets with knee-deep water.
Yachts and large vessels were carried by the intense wind and waves onto shore.
The MacArthur Causeway connecting Miami and Miami Beach was submerged under 6 ft (1.8 m) of water.

Communication between the two locales as well as the rest of the United States was cut after all local telecommunications and power lines were blown down.
Due to their susceptibility to strong winds, most wooden buildings in Miami were either blown down or lost their roofs.
Concrete and steel buildings were warped at their bases.
While skyscrapers mostly sustained minor damage, the 18-story Meyer-Kiser Building bore considerable damage.
The structure reportedly swayed and vibrated precipitously during the storm; eyewitnesses likened it to the Charleston dance.
Many of the injuries in the city were due to ballistic fragments of broken roofing including iron sheeting.
Other structures across the region sustained significant damage.
Strong winds leveled "hundreds" of working-class homes in Hialeah and severely damaged 70% of the town.
Winds destroyed the interiors of buildings in Fort Lauderdale, the seat of Broward County, and ripped the roof from the Broward County courthouse.
Despite having only 12,000 inhabitants, the town sustained severe damage to 3,500 of its buildings.
Nearby, the storm severely damaged the abandoned New River House of Refuge.
Cities as far north as Lake Park (then called Kelsey City) and West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County reported many roofs blown off, numerous small buildings destroyed, walls blown down, windows shattered, and trees, shrubs, and other objects torn apart or uprooted.
The worst destruction occurred in the poorer, mostly black sections of the towns, where many homes were destroyed.

Along the east coast of South Florida, the storm caused widespread, significant beach erosion.
At Hillsboro Inlet Light, high tides removed 20 feet (6.1 m) of sand beneath the lighthouse.
The hurricane swept away much of State Road A1A in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
The combined force of waves and storm surge undermined coastal structures that collapsed, including multi-story casinos on Miami Beach, and washed out the coastal bridge on Florida State Road A1A at Baker's Haulover Inlet.
In Boca Raton, waves were so large that they rose to the top of the high ridge on the barrier island, though they did not overtop it.
High surf also destroyed a casino at the Boca Raton Inlet. "
Knee-deep" water east of U.S. Route 1 (Federal Highway) in Boca Raton blocked beach access, but residents waded through.
Meanwhile, large waves left much debris and sand drifts several feet deep on State Road A1A in Delray Beach.
The waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon overflowed their banks, submerging nearby streets, parks, and golf courses.
High tides piled debris on the streets of Palm Beach, caused a beachfront boardwalk to collapse, and exacerbated previous damage from the July hurricane.
On Hollywood beach, waves smashed windows and invaded the interior of the Hollywood Beach Hotel.
People on the second floor found sand drifts reaching "half way to the ceiling."

The storm also ravaged entertainment venues and historic sites.
The storm flattened the Fulford–Miami S
The storm surge in South Florida was not as high as it would have been had the hurricane struck another area, owing to the deep offshore continental shelf, which reduced the energy needed to sustain a large surge. However, along Biscayne Bay, the hurricane produced a substantial storm surge; visual estimates suggested a peak height of 14–15 ft (4.3–4.6 m) in Coconut Grove, and a value of 11.7 feet (3.6 m) occurred at Dinner Key, equal to the observation at Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami. In fact, the storm surge measured in the 1926 hurricane was the highest ever officially documented on the east coast of South Florida until observers recorded a height of 16.89 ft (5.1 m) at the Burger King International Headquarters near Cutler in Dade County during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The hurricane's high storm surge swept into Miami and Miami Beach, flooding city streets with knee-deep water. Yachts and large vessels were carried by the intense wind and waves onto shore. The MacArthur Causeway connecting Miami and Miami Beach was submerged under 6 ft (1.8 m) of water.
Communication between the two locales as well as the rest of the United States was cut after all local telecommunications and power lines were blown down. Due to their susceptibility to strong winds, most wooden buildings in Miami were either blown down or lost their roofs. Concrete and steel buildings were warped at their bases. While skyscrapers mostly sustained minor damage, the 18-story Meyer-Kiser Building bore considerable damage. The structure reportedly swayed and vibrated precipitously during the storm; eyewitnesses likened it to the Charleston dance. Many of the injuries in the city were due to ballistic fragments of broken roofing including iron sheeting. Other structures across the region sustained significant damage. Strong winds leveled "hundreds" of working-class homes in Hialeah and severely damaged 70% of the town. Winds destroyed the interiors of buildings in Fort Lauderdale, the seat of Broward County, and ripped the roof from the Broward County courthouse. Despite having only 12,000 inhabitants, the town sustained severe damage to 3,500 of its buildings. Nearby, the storm severely damaged the abandoned New River House of Refuge. Cities as far north as Lake Park (then called Kelsey City) and West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County reported many roofs blown off, numerous small buildings destroyed, walls blown down, windows shattered, and trees, shrubs, and other objects torn apart or uprooted. The worst destruction occurred in the poorer, mostly black sections of the towns, where many homes were destroyed.
Along the east coast of South Florida, the storm caused widespread, significant beach erosion. At Hillsboro Inlet Light, high tides removed 20 feet (6.1 m) of sand beneath the lighthouse. The hurricane swept away much of State Road A1A in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. The combined force of waves and storm surge undermined coastal structures that collapsed, including multi-story casinos on Miami Beach, and washed out the coastal bridge on Florida State Road A1A at Baker's Haulover Inlet. In Boca Raton, waves were so large that they rose to the top of the high ridge on the barrier island, though they did not overtop it. High surf also destroyed a casino at the Boca Raton Inlet. "Knee-deep" water east of U.S. Route 1 (Federal Highway) in Boca Raton blocked beach access, but residents waded through. Meanwhile, large waves left much debris and sand drifts several feet deep on State Road A1A in Delray Beach. The waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon overflowed their banks, submerging nearby streets, parks, and golf courses. High tides piled debris on the streets of Palm Beach, caused a beachfront boardwalk to collapse, and exacerbated previous damage from the July hurricane. On Hollywood beach, waves smashed windows and invaded the interior of the Hollywood Beach Hotel. People on the second floor found sand drifts reaching "half way to the ceiling."
The storm also ravaged entertainment venues and historic sites. The storm flattened the Fulford–Miami S
1926 Miami hurricane