National Weather ServiceCoastal Flood WatchVTEC CF.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Coastal Flood Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 37 coastal flood watches in 2025 and 45 a year on average in 2008-2025; Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 24, 11% below the average of 27 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a coastal flood watch?
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.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many coastal flood watches a year?
National count: each coastal flood watch 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) | 24 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2024 | 90 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2022 | 46 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2020 | 50 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2018 | 59 |
| 2017 | 29 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2010 | 62 |
| 2009 | 53 |
| 2008 | 37 |
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 watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A coastal flood watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 12 | 8 | 9 |
| Virginia | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| North Carolina | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| New Jersey | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Florida | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Maine | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Delaware | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Alaska | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| New York | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Texas | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Georgia | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Washington | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| California | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 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 watches in AreaZine's record
NWS TiyanWatchOctober 1, 2026
Coastal Flood Watch: Tinian and Saipan, MP
In force until 10:00 p.m. UTC+10, October 5, 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 Watch or coastal flood warning?
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 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. The NWS issued 50 coastal flood warnings in 2025, against 37 coastal flood watches. The coastal flood warning record.