Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding: Annapolis, Maryland

Annapolis, Maryland, has experienced a more than fourfold increase in tidal flooding since 1970, with the City Dock flooding approximately 50 times per year. Sea levels in Annapolis have risen by over a foot in the last century, more than twice the global average. Projections indicate that by 2045, the city could face over 360 flood events annually. In response, the city is collaborating with agencies such as NOAA, FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers to assess vulnerability and study at-risk structures, while the U.S. Naval Academy is coordinating with state and local officials to address sea level rise as a national security issue.

• Annapolis has seen a significant increase in tidal flooding, with the frequency of such events increasing more than fourfold since 1970. The City Dock currently experiences flooding approximately 50 times annually during high tides, which can push seawater into downtown areas and out of storm drains even in clear weather.
• Local sea level rise in Annapolis has exceeded the global average, rising by more than one foot over the last century. Since 1990, the sea level has risen by three inches, leading to a more than doubling of minor flood events.
• Future projections suggest a severe escalation of flooding: by 2030, sea levels may rise another half-foot with flood events tripling to 180 per year; by 2045, a projected one-foot rise could result in over 360 annual flood events, 50 of which would be extensive.
• The city and Anne Arundel County are implementing vulnerability assessments and mitigation studies for nearly 200 at-risk structures using funding and expertise from NOAA, FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Maryland Historical Trust.
• The U.S. Naval Academy is coordinating with the state Department of Natural Resources and city officials to prepare for sea level rise, which the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy categorize as a national security issue.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2015). Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding: Annapolis, Maryland. https://www.ucs.org/resources/sea-level-rise-and-tidal-flooding-annapolis-maryland

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding: Annapolis, Maryland. 2015. https://www.ucs.org/resources/sea-level-rise-and-tidal-flooding-annapolis-maryland.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding: Annapolis, Maryland |date=11 May 2015 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/sea-level-rise-and-tidal-flooding-annapolis-maryland |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2015sea, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding: Annapolis, Maryland}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2015}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/sea-level-rise-and-tidal-flooding-annapolis-maryland}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }