Coastal flooding from high tides is becoming more frequent in most parts of the United States, driven by rising sea levels due to human-caused climate change. According to a new report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), millions of people are affected by these so-called sunny day floods each year. On average, the U.S. now experiences five extra days of high-tide flooding each year compared to the year 2000.
“Over the past year we’ve seen record coastal flooding,” says Nicole LeBoeuf, the director of the NOAA National Ocean Service. Several cities, including St. Petersburg, Fla., Atlantic City, N.J., and Charleston, S.C., tied or broke records for the number of high-tide flood days.
Galveston, Texas, experienced 23 days of high-tide flooding last year. The impacts of high-tide flooding are significant. Just a few inches of water can render neighborhoods inaccessible, affecting residents who use wheelchairs or strollers.
High-tide flooding impacts communities deeply
Standing water can also disrupt commutes, block emergency vehicles, and lead to secondary flooding if sewers overflow. “People living in the [Florida] Keys or Annapolis or Norfolk – they’re facing traffic delays dropping their kids off at school or getting to work because there’s water that’s flooding the streets,” says Karen Kavanaugh, an oceanographer at NOAA.
High-tide flooding can also force businesses to close and damage infrastructure, including underground pipes and vehicles, due to saltwater exposure. Sea levels rise at different rates in various locations, and the effects are more severe in areas where sea levels are rising rapidly. In the last 25 years, many regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Pacific Islands, have seen an increase of 250% or more in the number of high-tide flooding days.
“Decades of sea level rise are catching up,” says William Sweet, an oceanographer at NOAA. The number of annual high-tide flood days in the U.S. is expected to exceed 45 by mid-century. Local governments in coastal areas are working to upgrade infrastructure to withstand salt water, improve sewers and drainage systems, and budget for the costs of damage and disruption from high-tide flooding.
While high-tide flood forecasts do not account for storm flooding, the rising sea levels that drive sunny day floods also exacerbate storm surges. As global temperatures continue to increase, the issue of coastal flooding is expected to worsen, making it imperative for communities and governments to take action to mitigate these impacts.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
