Flooding in coastal communities is occurring far more often than previously believed, according to a new study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The research also highlights critical shortcomings in the traditional practice of using marine water level data to track and predict flooding.
The study, titled Land-based Sensors Reveal High Frequency of Coastal Flooding, was published in Communications Earth & Environment.
“Government agencies and researchers typically rely on tide gauge data to estimate how frequently flooding occurs in coastal regions,” said Miyuki Hino, corresponding author and assistant professor of city and regional planning at UNC. “But our findings show this method does not accurately reflect how often floods happen or how long they last.”
Katherine Anarde, co-author and assistant professor of coastal engineering at NC State, pointed out that rising sea levels have led to frequent flooding unrelated to extreme storms. “Flooding can now happen during routine rainfall or even on sunny days during high tides. As sea levels continue to rise, these events will only become more frequent. Our methods for monitoring and predicting floods need to evolve to reflect that.”
The researchers are part of the Sunny Day Flooding Project, which aims to improve flood monitoring, enhance understanding of coastal flooding, and identify the most effective strategies for mitigation.
https://github.com/AidenKLM/ATHENA-Blood-Twins-MOD-unlimited-diamonds-and-emeralds
https://github.com/BlakeRNW/Dark-War-Survival-unlimited-rubies-MOD-2025
https://github.com/BradyTDN/Asphalt-8-unlimited-money-and-tokens-latest-version
https://github.com/CalebGNS/Hill-Climb-Racing-unlimited-money-and-diamonds-and-paint-buckets-MOD
https://github.com/CarterSNB/Motorcycle-Real-Simulator-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/ColeDSB/Extreme-Car-Driving-Simulator-unlimited-money-and-VIP-Pass-2025
https://github.com/ConnorDVS/Moto-Rider-GO-Highway-Traffic-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/DylanKMP/Balkan-Drive-Zone-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/EthanBKT/Car-Parking-Multiplayer-2-unlimited-money-and-gold-MOD-2025
https://github.com/PaulHMB/OTR---Offroad-Car-Driving-Game-unlimited-money-unlock-all-cars-2025
https://github.com/JakeGNT/NFS-No-Limits-unlimited-money-and-gold-MOD-2025
https://github.com/JaxonLVB/Cars-Arena-Fast-Race-3D-MOD-unlimited-money
https://github.com/LeviAMT/Drift-2-Drag-MOD-unlimited-money-latest-version-2025
https://github.com/MasonBKT/Rally-Fury-unlimited-money-and-tokens-and-speed-MOD-2025
https://github.com/NathanKNW/Driving-School-Simulator-Evo-unlimited-money-2025
https://github.com/NolanGBT/Real-Racing-3-unlimited-money-and-gold-2025
https://github.com/ParkerGNS/Drift-Max-Pro-unlimited-money-and-gold-unlock-all-cars-2025
https://github.com/RyanHND/Driving-Zone-Germany-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/TylerGRT/Offroad-Outlaws-VIP-unlocked-unlimited-money-2025
https://github.com/DavidFND/Stunt-Car-Extreme-MOD-unlimited-money-and-gems
https://github.com/TylerDVS/Rebel-Racing-unlimited-money-gold-and-keys-latest-version
https://github.com/WadeTMD/Dyno-2-Race-unlimited-money-2025
https://github.com/ChrisGNW/My-Dream-Store-unlimited-money-and-gems-2025
https://github.com/AndrewTMD/Wasteland-Life-Survival-Idle-MOD-unlimited-money-and-gems
https://github.com/ChrisPGN/Pizza-Ready-unlimited-money-and-gems-unlocked-everything-2025
https://github.com/MarkLTN/Top-Eleven-2025-unlimited-tokens-MOD
https://github.com/KevinEMD/eFootball-2025-unlimited-coins
https://github.com/TerryABD/Score-Hero-unlimited-money-and-life-2025
https://github.com/RobertGRT/Real-Boxing-2-unlimited-diamonds-MOD-2025
https://github.com/WilliamPTB/The-Grand-Mafia-MOD-unlimited-gold-2025
https://github.com/DavidFMW/Forge-of-Empires-MOD-unlimited-diamonds-2025
https://github.com/ThomasDTS/Static-Shift-Racing-unlimited-money-and-gems-2025
https://github.com/MatthewPRT/Ultimate-Car-Driving-2-2025-unlimited-money-MOD
https://github.com/AndrewTNS/Drag-Racing-Streets-unlimited-money-MOD-latest-version
https://github.com/BrianMWA/Hero-Wars-Alliance-unlimited-money-and-gems-latest-version
https://github.com/KevinGCT/Shadow-Fight-4-Arena-unlimited-everything-and-max-level-MOD-2025
https://github.com/StevenBKN/Shadow-Fight-3-unlimited-gems-and-shadow-energy-MOD-2025
https://github.com/JoshBNG/Assoluto-Racing-unlimited-money-2025
https://github.com/KevinBKT/CarX-Highway-Racing-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/JeffreyTKT/Beach-Buggy-Racing-unlimited-money-and-gems-2025-MOD
https://github.com/JasonGMB/Universal-Truck-Simulator-unlimited-money-2025-MOD
https://github.com/PatrickDFK/Truck-Simulator-USA-Revolution-unlimited-money-MOD-2025
https://github.com/AdamFNG/APEX-Racer-unlimited-money-and-gold-MOD-2025
https://github.com/NathanWDN/F1-Clash-2025-unlimited-money-MOD
https://github.com/ChrisJNK/Pocket-Champs-MOD-unlimited-money-and-gems-latest-version
https://github.com/DavidHKD/Pocket-Styler-unlimited-money-and-gems-latest-version-2025
Currently, two primary thresholds are widely used to determine whether flooding has occurred based on tide gauge readings: the NOAA High Tide Flooding (HTF) threshold and the National Weather Service's (NWS) minor flood threshold. However, the new study suggests that these benchmarks dramatically underestimate the actual number of flood events.
To provide a more accurate picture, the research team installed a network of land-based sensors in three North Carolina communities—Beaufort, Carolina Beach, and Sea Level—to track roadway flooding. Over the course of a year, the sensors recorded flooding on 26 days in Beaufort, 65 days in Carolina Beach, and a striking 128 days in Sea Level.
The discrepancy between these figures and those estimated by tide gauge data was substantial. In Sea Level, for example, once floods linked to extreme storms were removed from the data, 122 flooding days remained. In contrast, the NWS threshold indicated only 31 flood days, and the HTF threshold identified just nine.
“These differences show that traditional marine-based measurements are missing much of the picture,” Anarde said. “Land-based monitoring offers a clearer view of the real-world impacts on communities and can help guide more responsive and effective planning and policy decisions.”