Coastal Flood — Marshall Islands, Guam

2024-03-09 to 2024-03-13 · Marshall Islands, Guam

Event narrative

Substantial inundation was already occurring on March 9th along the southeast-facing gravel road next to the Kwajalein Country Club extending SW toward the weather station, shortly after peak tide of 5.1 ft at 1359ChST (1559LST). A pool had formed on the golf course greens just southwest of the Country Club as well. Inundation reportedly worsened on 10th and 11th of March. March 10th was the expected peak in King tides and trade swells for Kwajalein. A roughly 1/8 mi stretch of east-facing gravel road along the North Point of Kwajalein Island was at least partially inundated by ankle deep water, covered in rocks, coconuts, fronds, and coral debris. Water levels came up close to one or two resident's yards, but no homes on Kwajalein reported any inundation. The evening of 12 March, employee of the RTS Weather Station, saw little standing water left, but still plenty of debris. Debris from wash-over was evident in a few spots along the north-facing road on Kwajalein Island's North Point as well, showing that some waves had penetrated well into the shallows past the reef.

Ebeye Island - located north of Kwajalein Island in the Kwajalein Atoll, reported flooding along mainly the northeast side of the island - lots of debris. The Gugeegue Causeway was closed and impassable, and school was cancelled as a result.

Roi-Namur - Located on the northern tip of Kwajalein atoll, reported flooding and debris reported mainly along the east-facing road adjacent to the runway. Flooding likely impacted other north- and east-facing shorelines.

Jaluit Atoll - On March 10th, around 1500ChST (1700ChST), an inspection team from the Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure and Utilities, responded to reports of inundation on Jabor Island. Waves reportedly came over the seawall, and came in through the boy's dormitory at one of the schools, causing some damage to infrastructure. Water also came up to other nearby homes an a hotel along the main road. The road between Jabor and the airport terminal was also covered in rocks from the inundation.

Wider weather episode

A large trade-wind surge from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands generated a large easterly trade surge, while a strong extratropical system moving into the Pacific from Japan generated a elevated north swell into the region. This event coinciding with the King Tide Cycle around March 10th, where high tides were higher than normal, leading to coastal flooding, especially in the Marshall Islands.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1169857. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.