Coastal Storm Will Translate to Soggy Conditions for the East Coast

A large swath of the Atlantic coastline from the Carolinas and up into the mid-Atlantic has been dealing with the impacts of a coastal storm over the last few days. While the heavy rain is starting to let up on Tuesday, several communities have been under the gun for coastal flooding due to the immense moisture associated with this system. This weather pattern makes this a good time to understand the specifics of a coastal flood advisory.

What Is A Coastal Flood Advisory?

A coastal flood advisory pertains to a specific type of flooding event that is possible when heavy rain causes a rapid water level rise in large bodies of water. This can include the ocean, the Great Lakes, and more. This type of flooding event can happen as a result of coastal storms that produce large waves capable of pushing water onshore or during times of atypically high tides.

What is most worrisome about coastal flooding is that the rush of water can happen even when it is not raining and the sun is shining. This timing can catch people off guard.

For example, a coastal flooding event often referred to as "sunny day flooding" happens during king tides. It is not unusual for king tide flooding issues to happen when there is no storm in the vicinity. Instead, the flooding is simply spurred on by rising sea levels and the normal astronomical tide cycle.

Regardless of what triggers it, coastal flooding can be quite dangerous in the short term. Additionally, repeated exposure to coastal flooding is responsible for long-term impacts, including damage to infrastructure and eroding coastlines.

Coastal flood advisories are issued with varying levels of urgency. The National Weather Service (NWS) is responsible for issuing these advisories.

Instances of Coastal Flooding on the Uptick

Unfortunately for those living along the coast, instances of coastal flooding have been increasing in recent years. According to a recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), global sea level rise can be blamed for more frequent coastal flooding events. This increase is the most prevalent along the East Coast.

For example, coastal flooding is at least five times more likely for several of the sites studied by the EPA when compared to data from the 1950s. This increase is translating to coastal flooding concerns for areas that used to not experience this threat from Mother Nature.

Coastal Storm Moves Up the Atlantic Seaboard

The coastal storm that started the week is forecast to dump widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches in a number of communities along the shore. Gusty winds accompanying the storm will push the water onshore, resulting in the chance of minor to moderate tidal flooding along the James River and into parts of the Chesapeake Bay. Water levels are expected to peak on Tuesday evening during high tide.

Forecasters are also warning that large breaking waves will raise the risk of dangerous rip currents. This is a good time to avoid going out into the water due to these hazards.

It will be a messy day of weather for Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The beach town is bracing for showers developing in the afternoon hours, with thunderstorms becoming more widespread after the sun goes down. It will be an increasingly breezy day with winds out of the northeast at 25 to 35 mph. Forecasters are warning that some gusts could eclipse 40 mph. The clouds and rain will keep highs in the low 70s on both Tuesday and Wednesday. While the storms will start to ease later in the day on Wednesday in Rehoboth Beach, it could be a soggy start to the day.

The chance of rain will pick up overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday in Long Island, New York. This coastal community will see lingering rain showers on Wednesday. It will be a noticeably cooler day on Wednesday, with highs that top out at about the 70-degree mark. The unsettled weather pattern will also usher in winds out of the east-northeast at 10 to 20 mph beginning on Tuesday.

The moisture machine will begin to turn off on Wednesday along the coast. Places such as Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, will see just a slight chance on Wednesday. The greatest chance of rain on this island will be in the overnight hours on Wednesday and into early Thursday.

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