Coastal Flood — Southwest Suffolk, New York

2023-12-18 · Southwest Suffolk, New York

Event narrative

Major coastal flooding occurred along the south shore of SW Suffolk, and major beach erosion also occurred along the south shore of Fire Island:

At the Watch Hill/Fire Island USGS tidal gauge, major flooding above the threshold of 4.2 ft MLLW occurred from 142 PM EST to 506 PM EST, with a peak water level of 4.7 ft MLLW from 248 PM EST to 342 PM EST. Moderate flooding of 3.7 ft MLLW or more occurred from 1242 PM EST to 612 PM EST.

At the Lindenhurst USGS tidal gauge, major coastal flooding at the threshold of 4.1 ft MLLW occurred from 124 PM EST to 212 PM EST. Moderate flooding of 3.6 ft MLLW or more occurred from 1148 AM EST to 324 PM EST.

At the West Sayville USGS tidal gauge, major coastal flooding of 4.1 ft MLLW or more occurred from 118 PM EST to 518 PM EST, with a peak a peak water level of 4.5 ft MLLW from 300 PM EST to 318 PM EST. Moderate flooding of 3.6 ft MLLW or more occurred from 1148 AM EST to 636 PM EST.

Wider weather episode

An intensifying storm moved up the Eastern Seaboard from northern Florida on December 17th, to the coastal Mid Atlantic region on the 18th. This storm produced a strong onshore flow on the 18th that combined with high astronomical tides to cause widespread moderate to locally major coastal flooding and beach erosion along the south shore of Long Island during the late morning and afternoon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1154208. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.