Urgent Coastal Flood Watch: Check Your City’s Risk and Essential Safety Steps Now

DATELINE – August 19, 2025 Residents from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to coastal New Jersey are being urged to brace for rising water as the National Weather Service (NWS) maintains a series of Coastal Flood Watches ahead of this week’s high-tide cycles. Forecast offices in Newport/Morehead City, Wilmington, Wakefield, and New York City warn that persistent onshore winds and an approaching tropical system are lining up to push tides 1-3 feet above normally dry ground in vulnerable shore communities. Meteorologists attribute the threat to a combination of a full-moon astronomical tide and the broad wind field surrounding Hurricane Erin, currently tracking north-northwest off the Southeast coast. Although Erin’s exact landfall remains uncertain, the storm’s expansive circulation is already funneling Atlantic water toward the shoreline and piling seas against inlets, back bays, and estuaries. “Even without a direct hit, the region can see moderate to locally major coastal flooding,” cautioned Brandon Duke, a coastal hazards specialist at NWS Wilmington. “Water may inundate roadways that typically remain passable, and some low-lying neighborhoods could be cut off for several hours around each high tide.” Key impact windows • North Carolina: The first round of peak inundation is expected Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning, coinciding with astronomical high tides along the Pamlico and Neuse rivers as well as the Crystal Coast beaches. Portions of Highway 12 on Hatteras Island could become impassable. • Virginia Tidewater: Moderate flooding is possible across Hampton Roads and the lower Chesapeake Bay during Wednesday’s midday high tide, with water potentially spilling onto the Downtown Tunnel approaches and Norfolk’s Hague neighborhood. • Delaware and New Jersey: Back-bay flooding may become the primary hazard Wednesday night into Thursday, particularly across Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean counties as northeast winds push water up the Intracoastal Waterway and barrier-island lagoons. • Long Island & NYC metro: The NWS New York office notes the potential for “widespread minor, locally moderate” flooding by early Thursday if Erin’s track remains offshore but close enough to sustain the easterly fetch. What makes coastal flooding different Unlike flash floods that tend to recede quickly once rainfall stops, storm-driven coastal flooding can persist for multiple high-tide cycles. Piers, dunes, and bulkheads repeatedly battered by elevated water are more likely to fail, and saltwater intrusion can damage vehicles, electrical systems, and agricultural land long after roads have dried. Preparations under way Local emergency managers are asking residents to secure trash cans and outdoor furniture, move vehicles to higher ground, and review evacuation routes in case watches escalate to warnings. Ferry systems serving Ocracoke, Cape May, and the Delaware Bay are monitoring conditions and may adjust schedules. Insurance experts remind homeowners that most standard policies do not cover flood damage, making it essential to verify National Flood Insurance Program coverage before hurricane season peaks. NOAA’s seasonal outlook continues to call for an above-normal Atlantic season, citing record-warm sea-surface temperatures and a developing La Niña pattern. Travel & recreation impacts Beachgoers should expect red-flag swimming restrictions, while marinas up and down the Mid-Atlantic coast have begun adding extra lines and lowering boat lifts. The U.S. Coast Guard advises against small-craft operations beyond sheltered waters until winds subside. Looking ahead Computer models indicate that Hurricane Erin will either parallel the coastline or recurve out to sea late Thursday. A closer pass could extend flood threats into Friday, especially for back-bay communities where drainage is slow. Conversely, a quicker eastward jog would allow waters to recede sooner. Officials emphasize that forecast adjustments are likely over the next 24-48 hours. Residents can monitor the latest advisories from their local NWS office, sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts, and consult real-time water-level gauges via NOAA’s Coastal Inundation Dashboard.