Urgent Coastal Flood Advisory: High Tides and Storm Surge Threaten Shorelines—What Residents Must Know Now

A stubborn on-shore flow is teaming up with this weekend’s full-moon tides, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to post Coastal Flood Advisories from the Jersey Shore to coastal New England through Sunday evening, June 22. Forecasters warn that minor to locally moderate inundation—generally 1 to 1.5 feet above normally dry ground—will peak during the late-morning and late-evening high-tide cycles, especially inside back bays and tidal rivers. Where and when to expect flooding • New York & Connecticut: Lower New York Harbor, the south and north shores of Long Island, western Long Island Sound, and the tidal Hudson will see their highest water between 9 a.m.–noon and again 9 p.m.–midnight, potentially swamping sections of the FDR Drive, Belt Parkway, and coastal rail lines. • New Jersey & Delaware Bay: Coastal Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties are vulnerable two to three hours around the 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. high tides; Route 30 in Atlantic City and the Wildwood boardwalk commonly take on water in these setups. • Chesapeake Bay & Tidal Potomac: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Arlington and the District of Columbia could see water lapping onto the Baltimore–Annapolis Boulevard and the Georgetown waterfront near midday Sunday. Check exact timing for your town via your local NWS office or the Eastern Region Coastal Flood Page. Why this event matters Coastal Flood Advisories are issued when water levels are high enough to flood roads, parking lots, parks and basements but usually stop short of structural damage. These “nuisance” or “sunny-day” floods are happening more often as sea level rises; NOAA reports the national frequency of high-tide flooding has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Expected impacts • Ponding on low-lying roads, especially during commute hours. • Salt-water intrusion into storm-drain systems, causing manhole covers to lift. • Localized travel delays on coastal rail lines (LIRR, NJ Transit). • Beach erosion and dangerous surf on Atlantic-facing beaches. Safety tips 1. Never drive through salt water; just six inches can stall a car and corrode its undercarriage. 2. Move vehicles from marinas or streets known to flood. 3. Secure loose items in yards; even minor waves can carry trash cans or patio furniture into the bay. 4. Follow official updates via weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio, or the free FEMA and Red Cross apps. 5. If you live in a basement apartment near the shoreline, keep important items off the floor and have an exit plan. Looking ahead The on-shore flow is expected to relax late Sunday night as a weak cold front passes offshore. However, astronomically high tides linger into Monday morning; isolated nuisance flooding could persist until water levels fully subside. Longer term, NOAA’s Sea Level Rise Viewer projects that by the 2050s, today’s “advisory-level” tides could become a near-daily occurrence along large stretches of the Mid-Atlantic coast. Residents and visitors are urged to stay weather-aware, factor extra travel time around high tide, and share reliable information with neighbors who may be new to coastal living.