Coastal Flooding Threat Due to Kingtide and Supermoon

Millions in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic regions are facing the possibility of ongoing coastal flooding, fueled by this month’s supermoon and persistent land winds. The combination of these factors has resulted in surging waters threatening coastal areas.

This current Kingtide follows a devastating event where nearly a dozen homes along the Outer River in North Carolina were swept into the Atlantic by a powerful wave generated by Hurricanes Imelda and Hambel last week.

The ongoing Kingtide is forecasted to trap water along the coast, especially in Florida, where sustained onshore winds are set to heighten the flooding risk.

The Kingtide coincides with the supermoon—commonly referred to as the Hunter’s Moon or Harvest Moon—when the moon comes closest to Earth. This gravitational pull causes ocean levels to swell, resulting in two daily high tides and two low tides along most coasts.

As the moon’s proximity to Earth increases, tides will grow more pronounced, giving rise to what experts term “Kingtide.” This time of year, communities are all too familiar with extreme flooding events.

In Charleston, South Carolina, for instance, high tides regularly lead to street closures, with floods often deep enough to halt traffic. Additional areas at risk of flooding include Savannah and Brunswick in Georgia, as well as St. Augustine and Key West in Florida.

The Fox Forecast Center has issued various weather alerts along the coast, encompassing coastal flood advisories from Carolina down to Florida and warnings for rip currents. Moreover, flooding risks are also extending to tidal rivers, bays, and sounds, such as the Cape Fear River and the Pamlico Sound.

While the most significant flooding threat was predicted for earlier this week, tide-related concerns will linger throughout the rest of the week.

Conditions are expected to improve as the week progresses, with offshore winds likely easing and enabling water levels to gradually fall.

Looking ahead, there are two more supermoons on the calendar for this year: the Beaver Moon on November 5th and the Cold Moon on December 4th. Although these events are likely to elevate tide levels, they won’t be as impactful as the one in October.