The NWS issued a coastal flooding advisory Tuesday as the high tide was forecast to inundate coastal areas with 6 inches or more of water.
This phenomenon is called high-tide flooding, and it occurs when weather and astrological variables push seawater above normal high marks. It’s concerning for the Lowcountry, since much of it is low-lying and susceptible to floods.
And the 2026 El Niño could make high-tide flooding a more frequent issue. El Niño are known to exacerbate high-tide flooding, and this year’s El Niño is forecast to be very strong.
What is high tide flooding?
Lowcountry tides change the sea level by 4 to 6 feet twice a day. Tides change due to the Moon and Sun’s gravity, and so when North America faces the moon, high tides occur. The highest tides occur when the moon is in its new and full phases, and it’s called a king tide…