National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Frigid Temperatures with Dangerous Wind Chills; Heavy Rain and Flooding

An arctic cold front will continue to plunge southward through the Plains, Mississippi Valley and the Northwest quadrant of the U.S. on Sunday. As a result, widespread frigid and well below normal temperatures are expected along with dangerous wind chills. Meanwhile, heavy rain and flooding are possible for the Gulf Coast states and much of Hawaii. Read More >

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Eastern Region Headquarters

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Eastern Region Coastal Flood Page

Weather.gov > Eastern Region Headquarters > Eastern Region Coastal Flood Page
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FAQs:

1. To provide feedback on this website, you may send email to the following addresses:

Northern Maine - carwebmaster@noaa.gov
Southern Maine and New Hampshire - gyx.webmaster@noaa.gov
Massachusetts, Rhode Island - box.webmaster@noaa.gov
Connecticut, New York - okx.webmaster@noaa.gov
New Jersey, Delaware - phi.webmaster@noaa.gov
Eastern Chesapeake Coast, and Virginia -akq.webmaster@noaa.gov
Western Chesapeake Coast, DC, and Virginia - lwx.webmaster@noaa.gov
Northern North Carolina Coastlines - wxobs.mhx@noaa.gov
Northern South Carolina and Southern North Carolina Coast -ilm.webmaster@noaa.gov
Northern Georgia and Southern South Carolina Coast - nws.charlestonsc@noaa.gov

2. How are these forecasts made?
The forecaster uses computer model guidance, climatology, and bias calculations, along with their understanding of the complex interactions of tides, waves, weather, and water levels to make these forecasts.

3. Why are some locations always "grayed" out?
The colors indicate forecast flood categories for the chosen tide cycle (slider bar in upper left). The colors are dependent on the weather offices sending the "table” information below the hydrograph. For some locations the tables are not provided due to a variety of factors:
  • Forecasting knowledge is still under development
  • Occasionally, the forecast high tide time is already past the current time
  • A few locations are considered “river forecasts” but are also tidal in nature; these locations will never have forecast tables.
4. How were the Potential Coast Flood Extent Layers created?
The National Weather Forecast offices have created the impact-based flood categories for individual tide gauge locations in collaboration with local Emergency Managers and other local officials. The impact categories represent the threat to the community based on the flooding of roads, infrastructure, businesses and homes resulting in a threat to property and life. For the Potential Coast Flood Extent Layers, the NWS collaborated with the NOAA "Digital Coast" staff who are the agency experts in digital elevations and geospatial analysis methods. NOAA “Digital Coast” applied their methodologies of depicting inundation applying them to the NWS flood thresholds creating these potential flood impact layers.

These flood category- based layers can be used in conjunction with NWS forecasts (either from coastal flood warnings and/or tide gauge forecasts from this web page). Note: The flood category thresholds and extent layers are representative of expected average of conditions based on the water level only. Other factors such as waves, winds, rainfall, and winter/ice conditions can create inland extents of flooding beyond what are depicted in these layers. The layers do not depict water depth.
Coastal Flood Threat Display
Selected View:
 
 
 
High Tide Cycle
 
Display Created:
 
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Coastal Hazard Overlays

Data Overlays
Observed Wave Height
Forecasts and Observations
image Forecast and Observations available
image Observations only
image Forecast table only
Flood categories provided by NWS forecast tables below graphs - Select tide cycle in upper left.
Major Flooding
Moderate Flooding
Minor Flooding
No Flooding
No forecast this cycle

Forecast Overlays Wave Height (ft)
Wind Speed (kts)
Wind Gust (kts)
test date


Experimental Potential Coastal Flood Extent Maps (How to use this information?)

     Low-lying Areas   Low-lying areas are hydrologically "unconnected" areas that may also flood." Minor Extent   Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters during Minor flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area. Moderate Extent   Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters during Moderate flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area. Major Extent   Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters during Major flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area. Major +1 Ft Extent   Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters when water levels are 1 ft above the start of Major flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area. Major +2 Ft Extent   Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters when water levels are 2 ft above the start of Major flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area. Major +3 Ft Extent Represents the potential inland extent of flood waters when water levels are 3 ft above the start of Major flooding. Map does not represent water depth. Water depth will vary within the highlighted area.
Opacity


Note:The potential coastal flood extent overlays illustrate the extent of potential stillwater flooding at a flood category threshold, not the depth. The layers do not account for the effects of wind, rainfall, wave action, erosion, subsidence, or future construction.

Federal Inundation and Impact Resources

FEMA Flood Maps

FEMA flood map service is the official public source for flood hazard information produced in support of the National Flood Insurance Program.

NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer

Provides depictions of sea level rise and potential coastal flooding impact areas.

NOAA’s Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper

Helps to start your community discussions about hazard impacts with maps of your area that show people, places, and natural resources exposed to coastal flooding.

NWS/OCM Minor, Moderate, Major Flood Threshold Maps

highlight flood-prone areas based on the NWS flood category thresholds.

 

Federal Coastal Flood Model Guidance

Note: Model guidance does not provide estimates of the entire water level at the coast. Actual water levels for a coastal flooding event may vary due to factors such as rainfall and wave action. Please see Coastal Hazard Map for official National Weather Service forecasts.

ETSS Storm Surge Model

This product is experimental total water level model guidance for tide gauges.  Water level guidance is for extra-tropical storms.

PETSS Storm Surge Model

This product is experimental total water level probabilistic model guidance for tide gauges.  Water level guidance is for extra-tropical storms.

ESTOFS Storm Surge Model

This product is experimental total water level model guidance for tide gauges. Water level guidance is for extra-tropical storms. 

NOS Regional OFS Models

perform nowcast and short-term (0 hr. - 48 hr.) forecast predictions of pertinent parameters (e.g., water levels, currents, salinity, temperature, waves) and provides them to users.

USGS Total Water Level & Coastal Change Forecast Viewer

Tool displays total water level forecasts and coastal change predictions along the U.S. coastline using local beach characteristics. This tool graphically displays dune erosion/overtopping potential.

Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS)

provides high-resolution nearshore wave model information using WFOs forecast wind grids.

Other Coastal Resources

NOS Tides & Currents

Homepage to numerous coastal water level resources.

NOS Sea Level & Coastal Flooding Information

Homepage to national source for coastal inundation data and sea level trends.

USGS Coastal Change Hazards Viewer

Find information on extreme storms and coastline changes.

    

 

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