The rising and falling of the sea is a phenomenon upon which we can always depend. Tides are the regular rise and fall of the sea surface caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun and their position relative to the earth. There are some factors that cause the tides to be higher than what is “normally” seen from day to day. This bulletin tells you when you may experience higher than normal high tides for the period of time between March and May 2019. We also publish annual high tide flooding reports that present a broad outlook of what to expect for a given year in terms of high tide flooding, as well as a summary of high tide flooding events for the previous calendar year.
A weak El Nino formed this past winter. This will bring a slightly higher chance of flooding along the U.S. East and West Coasts this spring.
Northeast Outlook
Includes Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York
When will the tides be higher than normal?
- March 20 – 23
- April 18 – 21
- May 17 – 20
Why will they be higher than normal?
- A perigean spring tide will be occurring. This is when the moon is either new or full and closest to earth. Higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides will occur.
- Tides will increase leading up to and after the June 21 summer solstice, due to the position of the sun relative to the earth’s equator.
- Mean sea level is typically higher in the late spring due to changing weather patterns and increasing water temperatures.
What kind of impact might I expect along the coast?
- Due to the topography of the northeast (less low lying areas), high tides alone will not likely cause a significant impact on the coast unless accompanied by storm or strong winds.
Where might I expect high tide flooding?
READ MORE at oceanservice.noaa.gov
Photos of Spring 2019 Tides Expected to be Higher than Average
