Coastal Flood — Coastal York, Maine

2021-01-16 · Coastal York, Maine

Event narrative

The astronomical tide in Portland of 10.2 feet MLLW combined with a 2.0 foot storm surge to produce a 12.2 foot MLLW storm tide during the early afternoon hours. Flood stage is 12.0 feet at the Portland gage. The tide remained above flood stage for a full 90 minutes. Significant splash-over occurred along Webhennet Drive in Wells as waves inundated and partially closed the road. In addition, water, sand and boulders closed Main, Eastern and Riverside Avenues in the Camp Ellis area of Saco.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure intensified as it entered interior New England on January sixteenth with a 991mb surface low being observed. This produced storm force easterly wind gusts over the outer waters of the Gulf of Maine and 16 foot nearshore waves with a period of 8 seconds. These large waves and storm surge coincided at the time of high tide leading to coastal flooding.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 940513. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.