PORTLAND, Maine — Researchers at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) are warning about possible flooding with the highest tides of the month: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night.
Dr. Dave Reidmiller is the director of the Climate Center with GMRI. He said it will likely only affect those who see flooding in most high tides, like wharfs along Commercial Street in Portland. There aren't any weather patterns pushing the tides higher over the next three nights, and he said we are out of "storm season" in June.
That being said, if you're in those possible flood zones, secure what can float including propane tanks and dumpsters, and move things like cars that won't do well in seawater.
Dr. Reidmiller recommends observing the impacts of flooding and taking notes to not only help yourself prepare for future floods but also help their researchers. You can share your findings with them here.
"Of course, there's that long-term rise in sea level that we are seeing as a result of climate change, but we've also seen kind of an unusual year-on-year jump in sea level that we can't fully explain, at least not yet," Dr. Reidmiller said. "We are actively investigating it. So when you add that kind of additional several inches of anomalous or unusual water on top of that long-term sea level rise and a high tide, you have increased risk of flooding."
According to researchers at GMRI, water levels over the past two years have been consistently about 6-12 inches above predicted tides, which has spurred this warning, despite no major storms in sight.
The highest tides of the month will be Tuesday at 10:09 p.m., Wednesday at 11 p.m., and Thursday at 11:49 p.m.