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1. Home
2. News
3. High Tide Flooding Archive
4. High Tide Bulletin: Spring 2019

**High Tide Bulletin: Spring 2019** When you may experience higher than normal tides between March and May 2019.   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.    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? 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? Portland, ME; Bar Harbor, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Kings Point, NY
 **Mid-Atlantic** outlook *Includes  New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia* 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? 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 Point, NY; Sandy Hook, NJ
 **Southeast** outlook *Includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Eastern Florida coast* When will the tides be higher than normal? April 18 -21
		 May 17-19 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? 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? Fort Pulaski, GA; Fernandina Beach, FL
 **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? The West Coast will not be significantly impacted by high tide flooding this spring. Why won’t this region be impacted? Tides alone will not be enough to cause significant flooding
 **Hawaii and the Pacific Islands** outlook *Includes Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Midway, Kwajalein, and Wake Island* When will the tides be higher than normal? March 19 - 23 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. 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. Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
 **ALASKA** outlook When will the tides be higher than normal? March 20-23 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. 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.    More **Information** 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?   **Search** Our Stories    Get **Social** Social
 **Last updated:** 06/01/23 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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