Coastal Flood in Pennsylvania, May 12 to 13, 1998

The combination of the continuous rain, onshore flow up the Delaware Bay and high astronomical tides because of the recent full moon produced widespread minor to locally moderate tidal flooding at the times of high tide along the Delaware River and tidal sections of its tributaries on the 12th and 13th, particularly during the higher early morning high tides. Some low-lying streets near the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers were flooded in Philadelphia. Some low-lying flooding occurred in the former Navy Yard, in the Gulf Oil area and between Philadelphia International Airport and Essington in Delaware County. The highest tide in Philadelphia occurred at 330 a.m. EDT on the 13th: 9.4 feet above mean lower low water, a departure of 2.5 feet above normal. Moderate tidal flooding starts at 9.3 feet above mean lower low water. The second highest tide was 9.1 feet above mean lower low water at 3 a.m. EDT on the 12th. Some minor tidal flooding also occurred on the 11th and 14th.