Examining Climate Trends in New England and Their Impact on Riverine Flood Behavior

New England has been experiencing an increasing trend in annual average temperature, annual average precipitation, and the frequency of heavy rainfall events over the past several decades. During this same time period, the region has experienced an increasing frequency of flooding, and in some cases, an increase in flood magnitude as well. The flood risk is compounded in smaller watersheds and where there has been significant changes in land use and encroachment into the floodplain.

These flood episodes have been associated with a variety of storm types and have affected the region at different times of the year. The common threads in each episode were a persistent storm track and the ability of each storm system to tap a tropical moisture source which resulted in very rainfall on already saturated ground.

This presentation will examine the observed climate trends, the atmospheric connections to the increased rainfall intensity of our weather systems, and the impacts it is having on river flood frequency and magnitude in New England.