A study led by University of Central Florida coastal researcher Ivan Haigh and published in Nature Communications found that coastal flooding often occurs at predictable times of day, reflecting the timing of tides. Using tide‑gauge data and flood records from the United States and the United Kingdom, the international team identified clear daily patterns. In Boston floods tend to happen around noon and midnight, while in Southern California they are more common in the morning. Along Florida’s coastline the timing varies; the Atlantic coast and the Florida Keys show moderate predictability, whereas the Gulf Coast is less predictable. The researchers noted that tides largely determine whether storm surge exceeds flood thresholds, causing even storm‑driven floods to follow tidal timing.
The findings suggest that knowing when floods are most likely to occur could improve forecasting, emergency planning, infrastructure operations and long‑term coastal adaptation, especially as rising sea levels make it easier for tides and modest weather events to trigger flooding. Professor Haigh, a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and director of the Center for Integrated Coastal Research, joined UCF in 2025 after a career at the University of Southampton that included directing its Center for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures.
Press release issued by UCF Today:
https://www.ucf.edu/news/coastal-flooding-happens-at-predictable-times-ucf-led-study-finds/
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