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Water levels on Maine’s coast are forecast to hit historic highs on Saturday, threatening to inflict more damage on coastal communities still reeling after a storm earlier this week sent water surging onshore.
Water levels at gauges from Portland to Eastport were forecast to top levels from Wednesday during the last storm, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Portland and Bar Harbor both hit new historic high-water marks on Wednesday.
The water level reached 15.49 feet in Bar Harbor Wednesday morning and is forecast to top 17 feet by noon Saturday. The previous record in Bar Harbor was 15.04 feet in 2018.
The water is projected to top 14 feet in Portland Saturday morning, slightly higher than the 13.84 feet hit on Wednesday morning, which broke the previous record set in 1978, NOAA said.
Maine’s governor issued a State of Civil Emergency Thursday for all eight of the state’s coastal counties after the storm surge caused destruction there.
“Significant rain, wind, and flooding have once again ravaged our state – this time our small communities up and down the coast,” Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday. “The damage we are seeing is devastating, from working waterfronts, to small businesses, to public roadways and more.”
The exceptionally high water is being driven by strong winds blowing water from the Atlantic Ocean toward the shore on top of high tide. Heavy rain inland only exacerbates the flooding.
Climate change is also playing a role. Sea levels are rising as global temperatures climb and melt glaciers and ice sheets. Higher sea levels are making coastal flooding events worse and will continue to do so in the future.