2017 state of U.S. high tide flooding with a 2018 outlook
This month's State of the Climate report includes an annual update of the state of coastal high tide flooding in the US. This type of flooding occurs when water levels measured at NOAA tide gauges exceed heights based on national flooding thresholds released in February by NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services.
This report assesses the number of days with high tide flooding during 2017 and provides an outlook for 2018. It uses difference flood elevation thresholds than in previous reports, which in many locations, now describe deeper and more severe flooding. Such coastal flooding is increasing in frequency, depth and extent in many areas of the US due to ongoing increases in local relative sea level. For example, the report finds that the Southeast Altantic coast is currently experiencing the fastest rate of increase in annual high tide flood days, with more than a 150 percent increase since 2000 predicted in 2018 at most locations.