We’ve made it through this morning’s high tide (around 8am) with only minor flooding reported in both Narragansett Bay and along the coastline.  The storm surge was around 2-2.5ft at high tide, which lead to minor splashover at some coastal locations and forced some roadways to shut down.  Tidal gauges in Narragansett Bay reported water levels near flood stage, but no significant flooding was reported.  Here’s a pic from some flooding in Fairhaven, MA

The high tide cycle that we are most concerned about this evening’s 8:23pm high tide.  We are still expecting a coastal flood event that could match or be slightly worse in spots that what was experienced in Hurricane Bob in 1991.  The storm surge will grow in FEET by this evening–up to 4-7ft and with 10-15ft breakers and an astronomical high tide on top of that, the flood could become major.  Here’s the wording from the National Weather Service this morning:

THE COASTAL FLOODING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE RHODE ISLAND COAST AND WESTPORT MASSACHUSETTS MAY BE COMPARABLE OR EVEN A LITTLE WORSE THAN HURRICANE BOB IN 1991.  A DURING THE HIGH TIDES THERE IS ALSO THE RISK OF STORM SURGE FLOODNIG UP THE LOWER ENDS OF UNPROTECTED RIVERS THAT FEED INTO BAYS…SOUNDS AND THE OCEAN. …

The impacts this evening will be widespread flooding of vulnerable shore roads and basements.  Numerous road closures are likely and we may even see damage to homes and businesses along shorelines.  Inundation of 3-5ft about ground level is expected at some locations.