Moon’s 18.6-year wobble could boost coastal floods on sunny days by mid-2030s
NASA-backed research says the Moon’s 18.6-year orbital wobble will amplify high tides as sea levels rise, pushing three-to-four times as many nuisance flood days onto U.S. coastlines starting in the mid-2030s. Flooding could occur on calm, clear days rather than storms, with regional impact varying based on local geography and subsidence; NOAA projections suggest a wide range (roughly 33–125% more flood days on some coasts). The trend will require localized planning and adaptation for coastal communities as the baseline sea level continues to rise.