Astronomical Low Tide — Coastal Cumberland, Maine

2020-09-22 · Coastal Cumberland, Maine

Event narrative

The astronomical tide in Portland of 10.8 feet combined with a storm surge of 1.3 feet at high tide to reach a 12.1 foot storm tide during the mid afternoon hours. Flood stage in Portland is 12.0 feet (MLLW). The tide remained above flood stage for 30 minutes at the Portland tide gage. The waves took down a fence at Higgin's Beach in Scarborough with minor flooding reported along the wharf streets in Portland.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Teddy underwent extra-tropical transition to a strong 951 mb storm well off shore in the Gulf of Maine before moving north north towards Halifax, Nova Scotia. This powerful cyclone coincided with astronomically high tides. Although winds were offshore, large, long period swell entered the Gulf of Maine leading to splash-over along the southern coast of Maine.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 922414. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.