The 2024 Portland flood was caused by heavy rainfall, an astronomical high tide, and high winds in Portland, Maine. It occurred, across coastal central Maine, on January 13, 2024,[1] causing severe flooding, especially in Portland's Old Port district and around Back Cove.[2] The storm followed another one, three days earlier,[3] which also occurred during high tide.[1][4]
 Portland Pier, pictured four months before the flood, was submerged for the first time | |
| Date | 13 January 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Portland, Maine, U.S. |
Flood measurements
editDuring the storm, 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain fell during the morning, and 60-mile-per-hour (97 km/h) winds, combined with a record-breaking high tide, resulted in waves of 15 feet (4.6 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m). At mean lower low water (MLLW),[5] a record-high tide level of 14.57 feet (4.44 m) was measured, surpassing the previous high of 14.17 feet (4.32 m) from 1978.[1]
Properties impacted
editPortland Pier was submerged, by water from the Fore River, which is a regular occurrence for that pier.[1] The pier floods with any tide 12 feet (3.7 m) or higher.[6]
Water also breached Commercial Street at Chandler's Wharf,[7] and Maine State Pier, which was completely submerged.[1]
DiMillo's Floating Restaurant suffered damage to its pilings, hinges broke off a platform, and the buildings on its pier flooded.[8]
The deck of Becky's Diner was flooded, and flood waters surrounded the restaurant's building on two sides.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Another potent storm brings historic coastal flooding, high winds to an already-drenched Maine". Press Herald. January 13, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Trotter, Michael Shepherd, Bill (January 13, 2024). "Flooding smashes Maine's coast, destroying historic buildings and forcing rescues". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Battered by Storms, Maine Picks Up the Pieces and Braces for More" – The New York Times, January 12, 2024
- ^ Cullinane, Susannah (January 13, 2024). "Vicious storm triggers historic coastal flooding as Arctic chill tees up the South's first snow". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Iconic fishing shacks in Portland, Maine, destroyed as coast sees historic water levels". ABC News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Hirschkorn, Phil (June 17, 2022), Maine climate scientists warn of more frequent king tide flooding without storms, retrieved March 5, 2024
- ^ Livingston, Ian; Brasch, Ben (January 10, 2024). "Massive storm leaves widespread damage and outages from flooding, tornadoes". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b WGME, Mal Meyer (January 15, 2024). "Portland businesses rebound after historic high tide causes extensive damage". WPFO. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
