There are two main factors with a big storm that can related to flooding. Water falling down from the sky and water rising up with tides. Since Maryland has the largest area of coastline of any state in the US if you consider the entire Chesapeake Bay Shore, then we have a lot to cover with Coastal Flood Warnings. Rainfall will range on average 1 to 3 inches in our region with much more farther south. Some of that water could take more than 6 hours to peak after the rain on tributaries that drain into the Bay. Then we must consider that winds will be over 30 mph with higher gusts along the water. This will be from the east to northeast.
The steady easterly wind creates two other problems on the Bay itself:
- That is like water swaying back and forth in a bathtub. The Chesapeake is shallow and water does slosh on to the western shore with an easterly wind.
- Tidal surge. The push of water form the Atlantic does reach up the Bay, and that can take a few hours. Check out the slider below and see how the water from the Ocean pushes up the bay and can reach Baltimore as Ocean City and Norfolk get close to low tide. So there is not one time that fits all.
The one caveat is that the direction is not from the southeast, would will prevent water from draining out at low tide. But this will still be a problem.
Chesapeake Bay OFS Water Level Forecast Guidance
Also see the storm impact on Ocean City and Beaches
Tide Chart: Thomas Point (Mid Bay)
National Weather Service Warning Statement Below…
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Southern Maryland: Coastal Flood Statement From National Weather Service
Expect this to be extended through the weekend
…COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS
EVENING…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM
EDT THIS EVENING.
* TIDAL ANOMALY…INCREASING TO ABOUT A FOOT ABOVE NORMAL THIS
MORNING THEN INCREASING TO ABOUT ONE AND A HALF FEET THIS
EVENING.
* TIMING…AROUND HIGH TIDE THIS MORNING AND AGAIN THIS EVENING.
* EXPECTED IMPACTS…MINOR INUNDATION OF LOW-LYING SHORE LINES
TODAY. MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE STARTING SATURDAY
EVENING.
HERE ARE THE TIMES OF THE NEXT HIGH TIDES
POINT LOOKOUT…4:54 AM AND 5:47 PM…
COLTONS POINT…6:42 AM AND 7:01 PM…
PINEY POINT…6:06 AM AND 6:25 PM…
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY INDICATES THAT ONSHORE WINDS AND TIDES
WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE FLOODING OF LOW AREAS ALONG THE SHORE.
ALL TIDE HEIGHTS ARE RELATIVE TO MEAN LOWER LOW WATER.
TIME OF HIGH TOTAL TIDES ARE APPROXIMATE TO THE NEAREST HOUR.
STRAITS POINT MD
MINOR 2.7 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT
TOTAL ASTRO
DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE ANOMALY FLOOD
/FT/ /FT/ /FT/ CATEGORY
———- ——- ——- ——- ——–
02/06 AM 2.7 1.6 1.1 MINOR
02/06 PM 3.3 1.8 1.5 MINOR
03/06 AM 3.1 1.5 1.6 MINOR
03/07 PM 3.8 1.7 2.1 MODERATE
04/08 AM 3.7 1.5 2.2 MODERATE
04/08 PM 3.7 1.6 2.1 MODERATE
