Report: Expect Regular Coastal Floods Within 15 Years

Climate change and rising seas will mean higher flood risks for cities. But when exactly will impactful flooding become a regular occurrence? New analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists says that time is fast approaching.

1 minute read

October 17, 2014, 11:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Planners working on resilience against flooding take heed. A report, released this month by the Union of Concerned Scientists, says tidal flooding may soon affect urban areas, especially on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Forecasts of hurricane and storm risks are plentiful in the wake of Sandy and Katrina, but research into higher tides is harder to come by.

Melanie Fitzpatrick, one of the researchers who compiled the report, remarked, “The shock for us was that tidal flooding could become the new normal in the next 15 years; we didn’t think it would be so soon.”

The team used sea-level data from the recent National Climate Assessment and from Climate Central to determine that “in the absence of flood-deflecting marshes, seawalls or levees, two-thirds of the 52 communities studied can expect a tripling in the frequency of high-tide flooding during the next 15 years.”

The researchers conclude that tidal “nuisance flooding,” though not as dramatic as a major storm, is a real and apparent resilience challenge. They advocate communication between affected cities to coordinate best responses. The article includes an interactive map that displays the report’s flooding predictions for U.S. cities based on a number of parameters.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014 in Climate Central

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

2 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

30 minutes ago - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

1 hour ago - Next City

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

3 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab