04 Nov Nuisance flooding due to high tides likely to persist Another Quality of Life Issue
One can argue about the causes, whether we are talking about 1, 000 year storms, 500 or even 10 year storms. The reality is that our state has been hit hard and it will not be the last time. As the lowcountry experiences more rain, flooding and when they coincide with unusually high tides, low lying areas like ours have challenges. This is not something we can fix today, but it is worth talking about. And thankfully the Beaufort Port Royal Rising Sea Level Task Force has some answers they are taking to the city’s neighborhoods. BK
Nuisance flooding due to high tides likely to persist
The Post and Courier / Bo Petersen / November 1, 2021
Researchers knew this year would bring more nuisance flooding from high tides. They didn’t know how much more, and what they’ve seen so far is disconcerting.
The region, meanwhile, is just starting to come to grips with the costs.
High tides in the Charleston Harbor led to flooding in several areas on the peninsula including the Battery on Wednesday. Leroy Burnell/Staff
The recent spate of extreme high tide means at least 30 days so far this year of tides at 7 feet or more — the “nuisance” point where downtown streets flood. The forecast was for 26 days. And the federal tidal year ranges from May 1 to April 30 to track events over the course of a single winter.
With six months to go until the end of April and winter nor’easter winds still to come, Charleston could quickly surpass last year’s total of 33 days, when 26 also were predicted.