Keep the waders handy, high-tide flooding to rise

Coastal communities at risk

Boston led the Northeast Atlantic region for most high-tide flooding days last year, a concerning trend that’s expected to only increase in the Hub and for coastal communities across the country, ocean researchers said in a report released Wednesday.

High-tide flooding, often referred to as “nuisance” or “sunny day” flooding, is now more common due to years of sea-level rise, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report. Boston experienced 19 days of high-tide flooding last year.

It no longer takes a strong storm or a hurricane to cause flooding in many coastal areas, NOAA researchers wrote.

“U.S. coastal communities are faced with mounting challenges as sea levels rise,” Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, said in a statement. “NOAA’s tide gauge observations not only ensure safe maritime navigation but are now providing critical information about changes in coastal flood risk to help communities prepare for and plan for a more resilient future.”

This year, the Northeast Atlantic coast is expected to have the most high-tide flooding days, a median of 8 days — which is a 140% increase since 2000, according to NOAA.

Boston is expected to have 12 to 19 high-tide flooding days this year, the NOAA projects.

By 2030, high-tide flooding is likely to happen about 15 to 25 days along the Northeast Atlantic, as a median regional value. By 2050, NOAA projects 40 to 130 high-tide flooding days for the region.

JIM MAHONEY / HERALD STAFF FILE ROADWAY WOES: A car drives through deep water in Lynn in 2018. Ocean researchers are warning of increased high-tide flooding days in Boston.