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Storms Drive Beach Dynamics
Storms Drive Beach Dynamics
Rhode Island has a long history of impacts from hurricanes and winter storms. The worst storms pre-dated the onset of RI beach surveying such as The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 and Hurricane Carol in 1954. RI residents should always remember the potential hazards and devastation from powerful storms. More recently, Hurricane Bob (1991) and Superstorm Sandy (2012) brought strong winds, waves and caused widespread beach erosion. Also, winter storms in December 2022, December 2023 and January 2024 caused additional impacts on the Rhode Island coast. For example, the photo above shows dune erosion in December 2022 at South Kingstown Town Beach. Using beach profile data collected from the 1960s to today, we can see and quantify how beaches have changed in response to storm conditions. Unfortunately, hurricanes and winter storms will continue to impact the Ocean State, and sea level is continuing to rise globally and locally at an even faster rate.
Oblique aerial photograph after Hurricane Sandy.
Although Hurricane Sandy was not a direct hit on Rhode Island, it caused high water levels and large waves that induced significant beach and dune changes. The photograph at left, taken in October 2012 by the RI Division of Transportation, shows coastal erosion of Misquamicut Beach and overwash across Atlantic Avenue due to Hurricane Sandy.
Look at the individual beach webpages (Go to RI Beaches above) to see how Hurricane Sandy affected the survey sites.
Why are storms so important?
The strong winds associated with storms create large, powerful ocean waves and can elevate the level of the sea, known as storm surge. The Storm Impact Scale helps predict when coastal change will occur. How? When waves break on a breach water will "run up" the beach, and larger waves cause higher runup. The combination of the tidal elevation, the storm surge and the wave runup creates the total water level, and when this exceeds the base elevation (or toe) of dune, a "Collision Regime" occurs and the dune erodes (see below). During major storms, the total water level can exceed the height (or crest) of the dune and the "Overwash Regime" occurs (see below) You can learn more about the Storm Impact Scale from the U.S. Geological Survey. Also, you can see forecasts for future storm impacts using the Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer.
The Storm Impact Scale
What happens during a major storm?
During Hurricane Sandy, the total water levels caused "Collision" and "Overwash" regimes at various locations along southern RI oceanfront.
Hurricane Sandy occurred on October 29, 2012. In this graph (right) of beach profile data from the Misquamicut in 2012, more than 20 feet of dune erosion is visible (look at the change in the elevation above 10 ft). Unfortunately, dune recovery requires time for potential rebuilding through nature or investment in beach nourishment.
The images taken in Matunuck (South Kingstown, RI) on December 18, 2023 demonstrate the Overwash Regime -- when the total water levels during a storm exceeds and erodes the dune height. Water and sediment is transported landward, and in this case, it caused flooding of Matunuck Beach Road and closed the roadway.
Above: Overwash on December 18, 2023. Photograph looking west from South Kingstown Town Beach showing ovewashed water and sediment flowing landward.
Above: Flooding across Matunuck Beach Road. Overwash led to flooding in Matunuck during the December 18, 2023 winter storm.
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