What are 'king tides' and why are they causing coastal flooding?

'King tides' are exceptionally high tides that occur a few times a year when the Earth, moon, and sun align, creating a strong gravitational pull on the oceans. This, combined with rising sea levels and land subsidence, is leading to more frequent and severe coastal flooding in many areas.

How are citizens helping to document the 'king tide' flooding?

Citizen science projects across the US are encouraging residents to share photos and observations of the high tide flooding in their communities. This data helps raise awareness and support resilience planning as the impacts of climate change continue to worsen.

Which regions of the US are most affected by the 'king tide' flooding?

The article specifically mentions coastal communities in the Southeast, including Florida, and the Northeast, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as being at risk of moderate to minor flooding from the 'king tides' expected through mid-October 2025.

Home / Weather / Coastal Flooding Threatens Southeast as 'King Tides' Surge

Coastal Flooding Threatens Southeast as 'King Tides' Surge

7 Oct

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Summary

Coastal flooding warnings issued for Southeast and Northeast US
Sea level rise and land subsidence exacerbating high tide flooding
Citizen science projects document worsening 'king tide' events

Coastal Flooding Threatens Southeast as 'King Tides' Surge

As of October 7th, 2025, coastal communities across the Southeast and Northeast United States are on alert for potential flooding from a series of 'king tides' expected to occur through mid-October. These exceptionally high tides, caused by the alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun, are forecast to bring moderate to minor flooding to low-lying areas along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.

According to weather experts, the risk of coastal flooding is exacerbated by rising sea levels and land subsidence in some regions. Scientists attribute a marked increase in high tide flooding days across the US to these long-term environmental changes. In some areas, the frequency of these events is predicted to triple by the middle of the century, potentially leading to 'continuous days of potential flooding' during peak 'king tide' seasons.

To document this trend, non-profit organizations and local governments are encouraging residents to share photos and observations of the flooding through citizen science projects. These efforts aim to raise awareness and support community resilience planning as the impacts of climate change continue to manifest along the nation's coastlines.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.