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Chatham Storm Surge Peaks at 2.13 Feet During September Nor'easter
- By Margaret Thorne
- Published
- Last updated
- Beach update
Offshore waves reached nine feet during the September nor'easter. Storm surge in Chatham peaked at 2.13 feet, but widespread erosion did not occur.
The September nor'easter brought rough conditions to the hook, with offshore waves measuring approximately nine feet. However, the storm did not cause widespread erosion along the Cape Cod coast.
Storm surge in Chatham peaked at 2.13 feet at 7:42 AM on Saturday, September 26. This peak arrived roughly one hour after low tide. Wind pushed water toward the Cape Cod coast during the event.
By the time high tide arrived in Chatham, the storm surge level had fallen by approximately five inches. High tide still included 1.71 feet of storm-driven water above normal tide levels. The largest waves, strongest surge and highest tide did not occur at the same time.
If you are planning a beach trip, the good news is that Cape Cod did not experience widespread erosion during the September nor'easter. However, water levels were high. Coastal erosion and flooding depend on factors including surge arrival time, alignment with high tide, duration of wind and waves, wind direction, and the condition and shape of the shoreline.
The event occurred on Saturday, September 26. The peak surge in Chatham happened at 7:42 AM. The surge arrived roughly one hour after low tide.
The Massachusetts Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Hazards covers the effects of storms, erosion, flooding and high winds on Massachusetts homes. The handbook includes steps residents can take before and after a storm. Information about Barnstable County Extension programs is available at capecod.gov/extension.
Barnstable County's Coastal Processes program tracked the event. Bryan McCormack works with this program and produced more than 300 photographs and videos documenting the storm.
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Who reported this
Margaret Thorne
Senior Editor
Margaret has edited New England travel coverage for fourteen years and owns the practical pages here: which town sells a beach sticker to whom, what the Sagamore queue does to a Friday in July, and which half of the Cape is shut in February. She quotes fees as bands because towns revise them annually, and she says plainly when a number is unconfirmed.
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