New York City flood history
894 days with roads at risk since 1996
Record high water
14.04 ft
Oct 29, 2012 · 286 roads at risk
Days a year, then vs now
16 → 46
1996–2005 vs 2016–2025
Most recent
Sep 28, 2026
6.87 ft · 11 roads at risk
On the map
The biggest days
Oct 29, 2012: 286 roads at risk14.04 ft at the gauge at The Battery · 9.2 ft above the tide tables · deepest: Severe · model estimate
Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions.
1996–2026
Days with roads at risk, by year
Since 1996
Highest water
| Date | High water · The Battery | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.04 ft | +9.20 ft | 286Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 9.51 ft | +4.14 ft | 151Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.80 ft | +4.39 ft | 87Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.66 ft | +2.82 ft | 72Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.57 ft | +3.05 ft | 68Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.37 ft | +2.68 ft | 47Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.28 ft | +2.76 ft | 37Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.27 ft | +3.03 ft | 37Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.27 ft | +2.85 ft | 37Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.10 ft | +2.16 ft | 31Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street |
Latest verified
Most recent days
| Date | High water · The Battery | vs tide tables | Roads at risk | Deepest streets (model) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.87 ft | +1.07 ft | 11Possible | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 7.98 ft | +2.32 ft | 22Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 8.27 ft | +2.85 ft | 37Severe | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 7.18 ft | +1.82 ft | 13Likely | Monroe Street, South Street, Madison Street | |
| 6.49 ft | +1.24 ft | 2Possible | Monroe Street, South Street |
Every day, every year
Browse by year
About this data: method, sources and free downloads
Since 1996, NOAA's tide gauge at The Battery has recorded water high enough for FloodRoute's model to put at least one New York City road at risk on 894 days, about 32 a year. The highest water was 14.04 ft on Monday, October 29, 2012, 9.20 ft above the tide tables; at that level the model estimates 286 New York City roads were at risk, including Monroe Street, South Street and Madison Street. Those days have become more common: about 16 a year in 1996–2005, versus 46 a year in 2016–2025.
For every day since 1996 we take NOAA's verified highest observed water at the tide gauge, adjust it to the town's prediction station exactly as the live forecast does (the gauge's departure from the tide tables, minus the departure already built into our calibration), and run FloodRoute's flood model on today's road network and street elevations. A day counts when at least one road in the town is at or below that water level by the model's rules. Rain is not included, so wet days were likely worse.
Gauge: NOAA 8518750 (The Battery). Heights are feet above MLLW.
Free to use under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. Credit: FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding.
Cite as: FloodRoute (2026). New York City, NY king tide flood history (model estimates). https://floodroute.com/ny/new-york-city/history. Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0.
FAQ
New York City flood history: questions, answered
How often do roads flood at high tide in New York City?
By FloodRoute's estimate, at least one New York City road was at risk on 894 days between 1996 and Sep 30, 2026, about 32 a year. Those days have become more common: about 16 a year in 1996–2005, versus 46 a year in 2016–2025. Most of those days are shallow water on a few low streets; the biggest days put dozens of roads at risk.
What was the highest tide in New York City since 1996?
Monday, October 29, 2012: NOAA's tide gauge at The Battery recorded 14.04 ft (MLLW), 9.20 ft above the tide tables. At that level FloodRoute's model estimates 286 New York City roads were at risk, including Monroe Street, South Street and Madison Street.
When did a high tide last put New York City roads at risk?
The most recent day in the verified record is Monday, September 28, 2026: 6.87 ft at the gauge at The Battery, 11 roads at risk. NOAA verifies data with a lag of a month or two; the live forecast covers today and the weeks ahead.
Is this a record of actual flooding in New York City?
No. Estimates, not records of actual flooding. Each day is NOAA's verified high water at the tide gauge, run through FloodRoute's flood model on today's roads and elevations, in dry weather. Drains, levees, tide gates, rain, road changes and elevation error all mean real conditions differed. Not for property, real-estate, insurance, lending, engineering or legal decisions. Neighbor flood reports in the FloodRoute app are the ground truth we use to check and improve the model.
Can I use this data?
Yes. Download it as CSV or JSON under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0, with attribution to FloodRoute (floodroute.com), © OpenStreetMap contributors, NOAA CO-OPS. Please describe it as estimates, never as observed flooding. More on the open data page.