King Tide Report by Harold Hanka

Westerly, RI

"Watch Hill parking lots near the WHYC, Misquamicut Club and entrance to Napatree Point were flooded by Tuesday’s king tide on July 12, 2022. King tide is a non-scientific term that refers to an especially high tide that happens when there's a new or full moon while the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit, according to Save The Bay. Documenting King tides help researchers get a glimpse of future impacts of sea-level rise. For example, a king tide today is equivalent to a foot of sea level rise in the future. This glimpse of future everyday water levels allows us to plan for future sea level rise, and how tide waters will flood our roads, public parks, and other infrastructure."