Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 17:33:09 EST
Summary: USGS crews begin recovery of sensor deployed to monitor storm-tide flooding from the weekends Nor'easter.
In response to the forecast coastal flooding from the major Nor'easter that affected the eastern seaboard this past weekend, the USGS deployed over 125 storm-tide and wave sensors prior to the storm from the Maryland coast north to southern Connecticut. These sensors were deployed as part of the USGS Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) Network to monitor the coastal impacts of the storm, and to provide data to support emergency managers and coastal scientists.
This week about 15 teams from the USGS began recovering the sensors, servicing continuous-record tide gages, and validating recorded peaks. Initial estimates indicate that the most severe storm-tide flooding from this storm occurred along the southern New Jersey and Delaware coasts. Preliminary data from USGS long-term gages in these areas indicate that at least two gages may have reached period of record levels.
Over the next few days, data from the recovered sensors will be processed and storm-tide peaks validated by USGS personnel. All data will be disseminated by the USGS through its storm-tide mapper at http://stn.wim.usgs.gov/noreasterjan2016 as it becomes available.