Boston is experiencing increased flooding caused by wicked high tides and rising sea levels, impacting local businesses and daily life. Patrick Devine, a captain for Boston Harbor City Cruises, describes waters flooding Long Wharf, consistently affecting operations. Many residents have adapted to these conditions, utilizing sandbags and modifying practices to cope with recurring flooding. According to NOAA, Boston faced 19 flooding days in 2024, projected to continue. Rising sea levels threaten to increase by 20 cm by 2030, 46 cm by 2050, and up to two meters by 2100 without intervention.
The water was ankle-deep outside the door to his office on Long Wharf, obscuring the pavements and walkways, surging into buildings and ruining vehicles in the car parks.
In Boston they call them wicked high tides, also known as king tides when the moon is at its closest to the Earth and pulling in the same direction as the sun.
Unless things change, sea levels here are projected to be 20cm higher than 2000 levels by 2030, 46cm higher by 2050, and a metre or two higher by 2100.
Much of Boston has got used to this. Devine has his own supply of sandbags now, for example.
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