# High Tide Bulletin: Winter 2018

## When you may experience higher than normal tides between December 2018 and February 2019. 

HomeNewsHigh Tide Flooding Archive

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 December 2018 and February 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.

This winter, an El Nino is predicted to form. If that happens, it will bring a higher chance of flooding along the U.S. East and West Coasts this fall and winter. 

## Regional **outlook** (Text only)

            -  Northeast 
            -  Mid-Atlantic
            -  Southeast
            -  Gulf Coast
            -  West Coast
            -  Pacific Islands
            -  Alaska

## **Northeast** outlook

*Includes Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and  New York*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 23 - 25
              - January 20 - 24 
              - February 19 - 22 

### **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.
              - An El Niño is forecasted to begin strengthening in the winter. Along the east coast, atmospheric patterns during El Niño typically drive extratropical storms closer to the coast. They also change wind patterns which push water higher along the coast. This creates a combination of higher sea levels and a higher frequency of storm surges. 

### **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?**

              - Providence, RI; Boston, MA; Bar Harbor, ME; Portland, ME

## **Mid-Atlantic** outlook

*Includes  New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 23- 24
              - January 21 - 23
              - February 19 - 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.
              - An El Niño is forecasted to begin strengthening in the winter. Along the east coast, atmospheric patterns during El Niño typically drive extratropical storms closer to the coast. They also change wind patterns which push water higher along the coast. This creates a combination of higher sea levels and a higher frequency of storm surges.

### **What kind of impact might I expect along the coast?**

              - Minor tidal flooding along the coast, in particular in low-lying areas.
              - If a storm occurs at this time, increased levels of tidal flooding and coastal erosion may occur.
              - Lower than normal low tides will also occur.

### **Where might I expect high tide flooding?**

              - Bergen Pt, NJ; Cape May, NJ; Sandy Hook, NJ; Atlantic City, NJ 

## **Southeast** outlook

*Includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Eastern Florida coast*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 23- 24
              - January 21 - 22

### **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.
              - An El Niño is forecasted to begin strengthening in the winter. Along the east coast, atmospheric patterns during El Niño typically drive extratropical storms closer to the coast. They also change wind patterns which push water higher along the coast. This creates a combination of higher sea levels and a higher frequency of storm surges.

### **What kind of impact might I expect along the coast?**

              - Minor tidal flooding along the coast, in particular in low-lying areas 
              - If a storm occurs at this time, increased levels of tidal flooding and coastal erosion may occur
              - Lower than normal low tides will also occur

### **Where might I expect high tide flooding?**

              - Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide flooding - Fort Pulaski, GA

## **Gulf Coast** outlook

*Includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Western Florida coast*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              -   The Gulf Coast will not be significantly impacted.

### **Why won’t they be impacted?**

              - In many locations of the Gulf Coast, the tidal range is relatively small compared to other regions of the U.S, so they will not be as significantly impacted by a perigean spring tide. 		

## **West Coast** outlook

*Includes California, Oregon, Washington State*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 20- 25
              - January 19 - 23
              - February 18 - 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.
              - An El Nino is forecasted to begin strengthening in the fall. Along the west coast, sea levels are typically elevated during El Niño.
              - The increased angle of the sun relative to the Earth, which reaches a maximum during the Winter Solstice (December 21).

### **What kind of impact might I expect along the coast?**

              - Minor tidal flooding along the coast, in particular in low-lying areas.
              - If a local storm or large swell are present at this time, increased levels of tidal flooding and coastal erosion may occur.
              - Lower than normal low tides will also occur.

### **Where might I expect high tide flooding?**

              - 				Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide flooding - Toke Pt, WA; South Beach, OR; Charleston, OR; Humboldt Bay, CA

## **Hawaii and the Pacific Islands** outlook

*Includes Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Midway, Kwajalein, and Wake Island*

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 22- 25
              - January 21 - 23
              - February 19 - 21

### **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.
              - The increased angle of the sun relative to the Earth, which reaches a maximum during the Winter Solstice (December 21).

### **Where might I expect High Tide Flooding.**

              - Kwajalein, Marshall Islands

## **ALASKA** outlook

### **When will the tides be higher than normal?**

              - December 20 - 25
              - January 20 - 24
              - February 19 - 22

### **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.
              - An El Nino is forecasted to begin strengthening in the winter. Along the west coast, sea levels are typically elevated during El Niño.
              - The increased angle of the sun relative to the Earth, which reaches a maximum during the Winter Solstice (December 21).

### **What kind of impact might I expect along the coast?**

              - 			Due to the topography, in particular for southeast Alaska (less low lying areas), tidal flooding will generally not have a significant impact on the coast unless there is a severe storm.

This year’s report summarizing the *high tide flooding events in 2017* and our *high tide flooding outlook for 2018* is now available. The latest report is based on new, national flooding thresholds. It focuses on more impactful, deeper floods at some locations and expands the outlook to about 100 coastal locations. 

###### Quick **Links**

            - Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services:  the nation's official source for tidal information.
            - What is high tide flooding?
            - Why are there summer tides in the fall?
            - What is a perigean spring tide?
            - View all high tide seasonal bulletins and annual high tide flooding reports
            - Have a high tide flooding image to share? Send it to us!

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