Elevated water levels from Hurricane Florence likely to impact Southeast Atlantic beaches and dunes for several days
The USGS Coastal Change Hazards storm team is predicting coastal change impacts due to the potential for high waves and storm surge along the Southeast Atlantic coast.
In North Carolina where Florence is predicted to make landfall, 75% of sandy beaches are likely to erode and 15% of dunes are likely to overwash. Forecasts showing the timing and magnitude of elevated water levels at the shoreline in the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer are predicting that water levels will be elevated for several days, increasing the likelihood of overwash and inundation as dunes are eroded through time. Predictions will be updated as conditions change and are available in the Coastal Change Hazards Portal.
Screen shot of the Coastal Change Hazards Portal showing potential coastal change impacts during a direct landfall of Hurricane Florence based on NHC Advisory 48, 500 AM AST TUE SEP 11 2018. (Public domain.)
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Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer
Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.
Coastal Change Hazards Portal
Interactive access to coastal change science and data for our Nation’s coasts. Information and products are organized within three coastal change hazard themes: 1) extreme storms, 2) shoreline change, and 3) sea-level rise. Displays probabilities of coastal erosion.