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  1. Home
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  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 to see when you may experience higher than normal tides that may cause flooding.

The NOAA Coastal Inundation Dashboard provides real-time water levels with forecasts out to 48 hours for all tidal stations.

View an archive of past high tide flooding dates for all regions.

CO-OPS is the NOAA tides and currents office.

Print or save this bulletin as a PDF document.

Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York

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.

Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia

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.

North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Eastern Florida coast

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

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Western Florida coast

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.

California, Oregon, Washington State

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.

Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Midway, Kwajalein, and Wake Island

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.

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.

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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