Coastal Flood — Coastal Rockingham, New Hampshire

2021-02-02 · Coastal Rockingham, New Hampshire

Event narrative

The astronomical high tide in Hampton of 9.2ft combined with a storm surge of 1.5ft to reach a 11.7ft storm tide, which was .7ft above the minor flood stage. The tide remained above flood stage for 2 hours and 9 minutes at the Hampton tide gage. In addition, large, battering waves with nearshore wave heights approaching 25ft lead to wave run-up damage. Battering waves flooded out a vehicle with over-wash littering Ocean Boulevard with small rock debris. Ocean Boulevard was flooded and impassable south of Boards head to wave splash-over. Sea Rd and Bass Beach were also flooded out. Flooding was aggravated due to storm drains covered by snow and ice with reports of ice floating down Johnson Avenue.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure rapidly intensified down to 988mb as it passed off the New England coast into the Gulf of Maine during the day on February 2nd. This produced storm force northeastly winds over the coastal waters that led to 25 foot nearshore waves. In addition, a storm surge up to 2 feet was also recorded at tidal gauges. The combination of the high tide, surge and large breaking waves caused coastal flooding across coastal Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 946437. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.