Climate Central: 100-Year Coastal Flood Zones to Expand

(Image courtesy of Climate Central)

Climate Central, Princeton, N.J., released an analysis of flooding along U.S. coasts, finding that in 25 years, 2.5 million Americans’ homes will be at risk of a severe coastal flood.

Currently, 29% of the country’s population lives along the coasts, and as of 2025, coastal floods occur three times more often than they did three decades ago. By 2050, floods are anticipated to occur 10 times more than they do now, according to projections based on the pollution pathway SSP2-4.5.

Florida, New York and New Jersey have the most people and homes in areas at risk from a severe coastal flood in 2050.

Florida will have 505,000 people at risk, in 355,000 homes. New York will have 445,000 people at risk, in 188,000 homes, and New Jersey will have 324,000 individuals in 232,000 homes.

Also in the top 10 are Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Broken down by city, New York City has the most people currently at risk of a severe flood in 2050 with 271,000 people. Other cities that rank high are Boston, with 85,000, St. Petersburg, Fla., at 46,000, Miami Beach, Fla., at 45,000, and Hoboken, N.J., at 34,000.

Climate Central also noted that older adults are disproportionately exposed to flood risk in the U.S., representing a greater share of the population in coastal areas.

“As sea level rise accelerates in response to climate change, flooding during coastal storms will threaten more homes in the U.S. every year,” Kristina Dahl, Vice President for Science at Climate Central, said. “By pinpointing local risks, science and technology can lead the way toward solutions that protect coastal residents in an increasingly hazardous future.”

Climate Central provides its analysis via its Coastal Risk Finder tool.