High Tide Flooding Outlook for May 2026

Posted April 30, 2026
Last Updated April 30, 2026 @ 4:00pm

Monthly High Tide Flooding Outlook – May 2026

The arrival of a new boating season for much of the country means that anything is possible on the coast — including the chances of high tide flooding. Sea levels in regions such as the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are typically higher in the late spring, largely due to changing weather patterns and warming water temperatures. As a result, many locations will see their highest water levels of the year in May, with nearly two dozen significant East Coast ports including Boston, Cape May, and Cape Canaveral all predicted to have possible flooding. The West Coast and Hawaiian Islands will also see the possibility of flooding in many harbors, with high-water events likely on the Big Island. Higher than normal high tides will occur around the new moon, on May 16, and on the two full moons that occur this month — on May 1 and May 31. These higher than normal tides (and lower than normal lows) occur during the perigean spring tide, when the moon is new and closest to Earth. If a storm happens to occur during these periods, the potential for coastal flooding and erosion will increase even more.

Note that a harbor’s absence from this list, despite it being in proximity to a harbor that is (for example: Montauk, New York, and Woods Hole, Massachusetts, both of which are near harbors that are listed as seeing possible flooding, don’t make the list themselves), does not mean that flooding is not possible. Instead, it simply means that NOAA either does not have a sufficiently validated model to make an accurate prediction, or that the local hydrodynamics makes such a prediction impossible.

May 1 – Full Moon
May 16 – New Moon
May 31 – Full Moon

View the detailed flooding report for harbors in every region below, and make sure to print your tide charts from US Harbors to be prepared for the high water level days in your favorite harbor.

Northeast: Possible & Likely Flood Days

Bar Harbor, ME — POSSIBLE May 16; 18, 19
Portland, ME — POSSIBLE May 16; 18-20
Boston, MA — POSSIBLE May 16-20
Bridgeport, CT — POSSIBLE May 15; 17, 18
Kings Point, NY — POSSIBLE May 14-19
The Battery, NY — POSSIBLE May 15-18

Mid-Atlantic: Possible & Likely Flood Days

Sandy Hook, NJ — POSSIBLE May 15-18
Atlantic City, NJ — POSSIBLE May 15-19
Cape May, NJ — POSSIBLE May 16-18; 20
Lewes, DE — POSSIBLE May 16-18; 20
Lewisetta, VA — POSSIBLE May 17, 18
Wachapreague, VA — POSSIBLE May 15-18; 20
Kiptopeke, VA — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
Sewells Point, VA — POSSIBLE May 15-19

Southeast: Possible & Likely Flood Days

Duck, NC — POSSIBLE May 15-18
Springmaid Pier, SC — POSSIBLE May 15-18
Charleston, SC — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
Fort Pulaski, GA — POSSIBLE May 15-18
Trident Pier, Port Canaveral, FL — POSSIBLE May 16-18

Gulf Coast: Possible & Likely Flood Days

Bay Waveland Yacht Club, MS — POSSIBLE May 16-21
Morgans Point, Barbours Cut, TX — POSSIBLE May 16-20
Eagle Point, Galveston Bay, TX — POSSIBLE May 1-10; 14-23; 27-31
Galveston Pier 21, TX — POSSIBLE May 16-18

West Coast: Possible & Likely Flood Days

San Diego, CA — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
La Jolla, CA — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
Los Angeles, CA — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
Santa Monica, CA — POSSIBLE May 16, 17
North Spit, CA — POSSIBLE May 17, 18
South Beach, OR — POSSIBLE May 18
Toke Point, WA — POSSIBLE May 18

Hawaii: Possible & Likely Flood Days

Kauai:

Nawiliwili, HI — POSSIBLE May 16-18

Oahu:

Mokuoloe, HI — POSSIBLE May 16-18
Honolulu, HI — POSSIBLE May 16-18

Maui:

Kahului, Kahului Harbor, HI — POSSIBLE May 16-18

Hawaii, Big Island:

Kawaihae, HI — POSSIBLE May 15, 19; LIKELY 16-18
Hilo, Hilo Bay, Kuhio Bay, HI — POSSIBLE May 15, 16, 18, 19; LIKELY 17

About these Predictions: “These flooding likelihoods are derived from a probabilistic model that incorporates tide predictions, sea level rise trends, and seasonal changes in coastal sea level to predict the potential that a higher than normal high tide may exceed established National Ocean Service flood thresholds. During these periods, high tide flooding may occur in flood-prone areas.” NOAA

High tide flooding at the Haulover Boat Ramp, Florida. Photo Shutterstock, Felix Mizioznikov

Flood Outlook