National Weather ServiceCoastal Flood WarningVTEC CF.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 50 coastal flood warnings in 2025 and 63 a year on average in 2008-2025; Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 34, 16% below the average of 41 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a coastal flood warning?
A coastal flood warning means seawater flooding of coastal roads and property is happening or expected, usually at high tide. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many coastal flood warnings a year?
National count: each coastal flood warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 34 |
| 2025 | 50 |
| 2024 | 124 |
| 2023 | 80 |
| 2022 | 67 |
| 2021 | 50 |
| 2020 | 71 |
| 2019 | 64 |
| 2018 | 106 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2016 | 72 |
| 2015 | 50 |
| 2014 | 35 |
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2011 | 52 |
| 2010 | 71 |
| 2009 | 58 |
| 2008 | 48 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most coastal flood warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A coastal flood warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 16 | 13 | 15 |
| North Carolina | 12 | 7 | 8 |
| Virginia | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Florida | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| New Jersey | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Delaware | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Louisiana | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| New York | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Maine | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Washington | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Alaska | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Mississippi | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| California | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest coastal flood warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS Key WestWarningSeptember 29, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Monroe Upper Keys, FL
Expired 7:00 a.m. EDT, September 30, 2026
NWS Key WestWarningSeptember 27, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Monroe Upper Keys, FL
Expired 5:00 a.m. EDT, September 29, 2026
NWS WakefieldWarningSeptember 27, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Accomack and Northampton, VA
Expired 5:00 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2026
NWS Boston/NortonWarningSeptember 27, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk and 4 more, MA
Expired 8:00 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2026
NWS Baltimore MD/WashingtonWarningSeptember 26, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: St. Marys, MD
Expired 6:00 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2026
NWS UptonWarningSeptember 25, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Southern Fairfield, Southern New Haven and Southern Westchester, CT and NY
Expired 6:00 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2026
NWS Mount HollyWarningSeptember 25, 2026
Coastal Flood Warning: Cumberland, NJ
Expired 2:00 p.m. EDT, September 27, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
Coastal Flood Warning or coastal flood watch?
A coastal flood watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a coastal flood warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. A coastal flood watch means significant coastal flooding is possible. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 37 coastal flood watches in 2025, against 50 coastal flood warnings. The coastal flood watch record.