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1. Home
2. News
3. High Tide Flooding Archive
4. High Tide Bulletin: Winter 2021

NOAA High Tide Bulletin
        Winter 2021: When you may experience higher than normal tides
          between December 2021 and February 2022.


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 2021 and February 2022. 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. Higher than normal high tides alone do not necessarily cause coastal flooding. However, they are becoming increasingly impactful due to continued sea level rise. High tide
        flooding that inundates busy streets, and washes out beaches is more likely to occur during these periods depending on your location along the coast. More severe flooding may result if adverse weather — heavy rains, strong wind or big waves — conditions are present.
 Select Your Region Select your region to see when you may experience higher than normal tides that may cause flooding. NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard The NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard provides real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours for all tidal stations. High Tide Flooding Bulletin: Historical
            Archive View an archive of past high tide flooding dates for all regions. Center for Operational Oceanographic
            Products and Services (CO-OPS) CO-OPS is the NOAA tides and currents office. Print High Tide Bulletin Print or save this bulletin as a PDF document.
 NORTHEAST OUTLOOK
 Dates: December 2-7
                    January 1-5
                    January 31-February 2 Locations: Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide
                    flooding: Bar Harbor, ME; Portland, ME; Boston, MA; Kings Point, NY
                    In December, some locations along the Northeast coast will have their highest tides of the year and are predicted to exceed the high tide flooding threshold based on tides alone.
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). What kind of impact might I expect along the coast? Low lying areas may flood, however high tides alone will likely not cause a significant impact on the coast in most areas unless accompanied by a storm or strong winds.
                    Lower than normal low tides will also occur.
 MID-ATLANTIC OUTLOOK
 Dates: December 2-7
                    January 1-5
                    January 31-February 2 Locations: Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide
                    flooding: The Battery, NY; Bergen Point, NY; Sandy Hook, NJ; Atlantic City, NJ; Cape May, NJ; Lewes, DE
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). 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.
 SOUTHEAST OUTLOOK
 Dates: December 2-7
                    January 1-4
                    No dates in February Locations: Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide
                    flooding: Duck, NC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Charleston, SC; Fort Pulaski, GA, Fernandina Beach, FL; Cape Canaveral, FL
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). 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
 GULF COAST OUTLOOK
 Dates: No dates December 2021 - February 2022 Locations: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Western Florida coast.
 Why will they 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
 Dates: December 1-8
                    December 30-January 7
                    January 28-February 2 Locations: Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide
                    flooding: Port Angeles, WA; Toke Point, WA; South Beach, OR; Charleston, OR; Port Orford, OR; Humboldt Bay, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Los Angeles, CA; La Jolla, CA; San Diego, CA
                    In early December and early January, many locations along the West Coast will have their highest tides of the year and are predicted to exceed the high tide flooding threshold based on tides alone.
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). 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.
 PACIFIC ISLANDS OUTLOOK
 Dates: December 3-8
                    January 1-6
                    January 30-February 4 Locations: Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
                    In early December, some locations in the Pacific will have their highest tides of the year.
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). 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.
 ALASKA OUTLOOK
 Dates: December 2-7
                    December 31-January 6
                    January 30-February 4 Locations: Tide stations at the following locations have the greatest chance of seeing high tide
                    flooding: Alaska
                    Visit the NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard for this region to view real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours.
 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). 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.
                    Lower than normal low tides will also occur.
 CARIBBEAN ISLANDS OUTLOOK
 Dates: No dates December 2021 - February, 2022 Locations: The Caribbean Islands will not be significantly impacted.
 Why will they be higher than normal? This region will not be significantly impacted. Why won’t they be impacted? For Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the tidal range is relatively small compared to other regions of the U.S, so these locations will not be significantly impacted by a perigean spring tide. However, local flooding may occur due to wave, rainfall, and elevated groundwater effects — particularly if there is a severe storm.


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