Photos courtesy of The Roosevelts, Orig. published 11-2-2012.
Monitoring Storm Tide from
Hurricane Sandy
along the coast of New Jersey
Thomas P. Suro, P.H., CFM
Hydrologist/ Engineer
Act. Surface-water Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey
New Jersey Water Science Center
May 22, 2013
NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting
Monitoring Storm Tide from
Hurricane Sandy
•
Background on USGS coastal-monitoring
program.
•
Storm history for Hurricane Sandy.
•
USGS sensor deployment and recovery.
•
High-water mark flagging and surveying.
•
Results from Hurricane Sandy documentation.
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane
Sandy
Past Storm-Sensor Deployment
• USGS studies effects of hurricanes and tropical
•
storms to better understand potential impacts on
coastal communities and habitats.
Current storm-surge sensor deployment program
began in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.
• USGS deployed sensors for: Rita (2005) Wilma
(2005) Ernesto (2006) Gustav (2008) Ike (2008)
Earl (2010) Irene (2011) Isaac (2012) Sandy (2012)
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Storm History and Deployment
•
Eighteenth named storm of 2012 season;
tenth hurricane of season.
•
Formed as a tropical disturbance on Oct. 18,
named on Oct. 22 (Tropical Storm), reached
peak intensity on Oct. 25 (Cat 2 Hurricane).
•
Center of Sandy makes landfall near Atlantic
City, NJ at around 7 P.M. on October 29th
with 90-mph winds.
•
•
Landfall near
Atlantic City
Oct. 29
Begins to re-intensify
to Cat. 1 – Oct. 28
Prior to landfall storm began transformation
to a post-tropical cyclone.
Gale- to storm-force winds from Sandy,
lasting 12 to 18 hours caused major to record
coastal flooding along the coast of New
Jersey on October 29, 2012.
Begins
transition to
posttropical
Cat. 2 – Oct. 25
TS – Oct 22
Low – Oct 18
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Storm History and Deployment
•
Predicted unprecedented track, posttropical transition, and massive wind field
(fetch), prompted USGS toward
deployment.
•
Sensor deployment needs to be decided at
least 4 days before predicted landfall.
• By October 24 most NHC models
predicted landfall along northern midAtlantic or Northeast coast.
•
On October 25th USGS consults with
NWS and NHC and a decision was made
to deploy.
Oct. 29 Landfall
Oct. 28 –
Sensor
deployment
complete
Oct. 26 – Sensor
deployment begins
Oct. 25 – Decision
made to deploy
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
East Coast Deployment
•
Sensors deployed by USGS along east
coast from Virginia Beach, VA to
Portland, ME.
• 230 storm-tide sensors,
• 65 barometric-pressure sensors,
• 9 wave-height sensors,
• 8 rapid-deployment gages, and
• 921 HWM’s flagged.
•
More than 14 local USGS offices and
2 storm-surge coordination centers
directly involved.
•
Development of online mapper to
display real-time data and storm-tide
elevation to NAVD88 within days of
storm.
A coordination challenge !
•
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Data Collection and Sensor Recovery
• USGS operates 23 continuoustide gages in NJ.
• USGS also has 32 tidal crest-stage
gages in NJ.
• The USGS also operates 6
streamgages in Barnegat bay
• 10 storm surge sensors were
deployed in NJ prior to Sandy.
• Highest Peak storm-tide
elevations recorded in Raritan
Bay.
> 13 ft
> 9 ft
> 7 ft
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Data Collection and Sensor Recovery
• More than 900 high-water
marks (HWMs) flagged along
the east coast.
• About 620 were surveyed
12-14 ft
(Conn, Mass, and RI not surveyed due
to lack of funding)
• In NJ 170 marks were collected
and surveyed from Bergen to
Cape May counties.
• HWMs verified recorded peak
storm-tide elevations and
added valuable information in
all of NJ’s coastal counties
9-11 ft
(waves 17- 19 ft)
6-9 ft
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Peak storm tide data
• USGS tide gage network
not designed for
hurricane monitoring.
• Data estimated when
peak tide levels exceeded
maximum recordable
limits.
• HWM data collected to
verify peak storm tide
elevations at USGS gages
and along the entire
coast.
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Peak storm tide data
• Peak storm tide elevations
greater than 12 ft recorded
in and around Raritan Bay.
• Peak storm tide elevations
generally 8-12 ft from Sandy
Hook to Toms River.
• Peak storm tide elevations
generally 6-8 ft south of
Atlantic City.
Note: Peak storm tide was recorded by tide
gages, surge sensors and wave sensors.
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Flood extent and inundation
• USGS tide gages, storm
sensors, and HWM data
were used to calibrate
flood extents.
• The USGS worked in
cooperation with FEMA,
NJDEP and NJDOT to
develop a documentation
plan for extent of flooding.
Raritan Bay had highest storm tide
Sandy Hook completely inundated
SeaBright peak 2 ft. greater than 1992
Atlantic City worst flooding since 1962
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Comparison to previous storms
“Sandy” was not the first major Hurricane to Hit New Jersey and the northeast.
• Hurricanes in the northeast have been recorded back to the 1600’s.
• In 1893 back to back August hurricanes hit NJ and the northeast.
• In Sept. 1938 the Great New England Hurricane passed along the NJ
coast and made landfall on Long Island.
• In Sept. 1944 “The Great Atlantic Hurricane” hit New Jersey much
worse than the 1938. (winds of 60-70 MPH with gusts > 80-90 MPH)
NOTE: Second year of hurricane reconnaissance : B25 used to fly into the storm.
• The March 1962 storm was the most widespread and devastating to
hit the region during that century. (Named the “five-high” storm because of
five consecutive high tides.)
• The December 1992 “ Great Nor’easter” was a slow-moving
nor’easter that produced record setting storm tides at most USGS
tide stations along the coast at New Jersey and New York. (only
exceeded by 1962 storm in a few locations)
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Comparison to previous storms
Sta No.
Sta. Name
March 1962
Dec. 1992
Aug 2011
Oct 2012
(ft. NAVD 88)
(ft. NAVD 88)
(ft. NAVD 88)
(ft. NAVD 88)
“Sandy”
01406700 Ratitan River at
Perth Amboy, NJ
--
9.41
7.82
13.4
01407600 Shrewsbury River
at Sea Bright, NJ
5.61
7.31
6.29
9.56
01409135 Barnegat Bay at
Loveladies, NJ
4.83
4.23
2.84
5.01
01409285 Little Egg Harbor at
Beach Haven, NJ
5.91
5.67
3.60
7.47
01410100 Mullica River at
Port Republic, NJ
6.61
5.86
3.77
8.1
Note: some HWM’s from 1962 show 7-10+ ft peak storm-tide elevations south of AC to Cape May.
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Summary of data
What does this mean?
“Sandy” reset the current standard for preparedness.
New Jersey has been battered by hurricanes in the past, so we need to better prepare for the future.
• USGS data is being used by FEMA to verify flooding.
(Sandy elevations generally 0.5 to >3 ft higher than previous record)
• USACE and NWS have access to the data for storm tide/surge
modeling. (Peak storm-tide pattern for Sandy was similar to 1992 but different
than 1962)
• State and local government can use the data to verify flood prone
areas and inundation, peak storm-tide elevations etc.. (USGS data for
“Sandy” available at nj.usgs.gov – click link for “Information on Hurricane Sandy”).
• The USGS is also trying to work with the Natural and Cultural
Resources group at FEMA and representatives from other
government agencies including NPS and USACE on the topics
of coastal restoration and monitoring.
Monitoring Storm Tide from Hurricane Sandy
Access to data and reports
Initial USGS storm tide monitoring report available : http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1043
USGS Scientific Investigation Report for New Jersey is in progress….
http://nj.usgs.gov
http://water.usgs.gov/floods/events/2012/sandy/sandymapper.html
Monitoring Storm Tide from
Hurricane Sandy
along the coast of New Jersey
Contact Info:
Thomas P. Suro, P.H., CFM
Hydrologist/ Engineer
Act. Surface-water Specialist
U.S. Geological Survey, NJ Water Science Center
810 Bear Tavern Road, W. Trenton, NJ 08268
Ph : (609) 771-3968
Fax: (609) 771-3915