From New York City to the coast of Maine, record-breaking high tides in part fueled by the climate crisis brought destruction to the U.S. northeast on Saturday with roads flooded, infrastructure destroyed, and historic buildings washed out to sea—a horrifying preview of what scientists say will become all the more frequent if humanity continues its refusal to end the era of fossil fuels.
In downtown Portland, Maine the areas along the harbor and waterfront piers were inundated with unprecedented flooding. The city's vibrant Old Port was underwater in many places with extensive damage to buildings, businesses, and infrastructure.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/fishing-shacks-maine-sea-level-riseWhile a storm system was blowing through southern Maine, bringing heavy winds and rain, the region has experienced much larger and powerful storms. According to the local CBS affiliate, "The Portland tide gauge settled out at 14.57 feet. That's the highest tide ever recorded in Portland."
Major coastline flooding was also reported in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
The coastal flooding in the northeast—which brought unseasonal heavy rains in regions much more accustomed to snow this time of year—came as the central states of the country experienced icy cold temperatures due the
polar vortex phenomenon that scientists also attribute to the climate crisis.
