In a recent study published in Nature Communications, Haigh and an international team of researchers found that coastal flooding tends to occur at certain times of day, reflecting the timing of the tides. While previous research has largely focused on the seasonal timing of river and coastal flooding, this is the first study to show that impact-causing floods have predictable daily timing across regions.

“Floods have traditionally been viewed as primarily weather-driven and therefore relatively unpredictable in their exact timing,” Haigh says. “But surprisingly little attention has been paid to what hour of the day flooding occurs. Another reason is the way we measure flooding. We commonly talk about the number of ‘flood days’ per year. Once an event is reduced to a flood day, the information about whether the flooding happened at 3 a.m., 8 a.m. or 3 p.m. disappears.”

Tides Create Predictable Patterns

Using tide gauge data and flood event records from the U.S. and the U.K., the researchers found clear patterns in when floods occur.

In Boston, for example, floods occur predominantly around noon and midnight, while in Southern California they are more common in the morning. In Florida, timing varies along the coastline because tides differ by location. Along the Atlantic Coast and toward the Florida Keys, coastal flooding is moderately predictable, while flooding along the Gulf Coast is less predictable.

Haigh says tides largely drive that predictability.

“In many locations, tides determine whether storm surge is sufficient to push water levels above flood thresholds,” Haigh says. “As a result, even storm-driven flooding often inherits the timing of the tides.”

The researchers found that the phenomenon isn’t limited to locations that experience semidiurnal tides, which consist of two high tides and two low tides each day. It also occurs in places with diurnal tidal systems — with one high tide and one low tide per day — because of the way different tidal signals interact.

Why Flood Timing Matters

As sea levels rise, coastal flooding is increasingly occurring even without storms, making an understanding of when floods are likely to occur increasingly important.

“This matters because timing influences impacts,” Haigh says. “The same flood can have very different consequences if it occurs during the morning commute, business hours or in the middle of the night. Understanding these temporal patterns could improve flood forecasting, emergency planning, infrastructure operations and long-term coastal adaptation

Knowing when coastal flooding is most likely to occur could help people, businesses and emergency managers better anticipate disruption and plan accordingly. That information could become even more useful as rising sea levels make it easier for tides and relatively small weather events to push water above flood thresholds.

“Higher mean sea levels signify that it will take only a relatively small weather contribution or sometimes simply a very high astronomical tide to cross a flood threshold,” Haigh says. “Understanding exactly when those critical tidal windows occur could therefore become an increasingly important component of coastal flood forecasting and preparedness.”

About the Researcher

Professor Ivan Haigh is a professor and eminent coastal and physical oceanographer. A coastal and physical oceanographer, he earned his bachelor’s degree in oceanography and mathematics, and his Ph.D. from the University of Southampton. He later served as a professor of sea level and coastal impacts at Southampton and directed its Center for Doctoral Training for Resilient Flood Futures. Haigh joined the ɫ���� in 2025, as the director of the Center for Integrated Coastal Research.

Now, Haigh is ready to embark on a new chapter in his career. This fall, he joins the university as the director ɫ����’s National Center for Integrated Coastal Research (UCF Coastal) and a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering.

“UCF’s strong interdisciplinary approach and commitment to community engagement perfectly match my belief that science should have real-world impact,” Haigh says. “I’m thrilled to bring my experience to this new chapter, helping to drive innovative coastal research and resilience in a region that feels surprisingly like home — with a climate much closer to Zambia than the chilly English winters that I won’t miss.”

Directing UCF Coastal

As director ɫ���� Coastal, Haigh plans to establish the center as a globally recognized hub for interdisciplinary coastal science. In addition to the innovative research driven by the faculty, he also says he hopes the center will deliver tangible, real-world solutions to the challenges faced by Florida’s shoreside communities.

“By fostering collaboration across [several] fields, the center will develop holistic strategies to address the complex and interconnected issues of sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss and coastal resilience.”

“I envision UCF Coastal as a vibrant bridge connecting [various] disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, social science, conservation, public policy, community planning and emergency management,” Haigh says. “By fostering collaboration across these fields, the center will develop holistic strategies to address the complex and interconnected issues of sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss and coastal resilience.”

Haigh says UCF Coastal will cultivate an environment where all researchers can flourish, including students. They can get involved in hands-on research, mentorships and in new student-led initiatives. He encourages early-career researchers to learn more by attending upcoming events and seminars or by connecting with him via email. Students can also look forward to future studies with Haigh, who will develop a course on coastal science and resilience that he plans to teach during his second year with UCF.

For now, Haigh will focus on bringing his vision for UCF Coastal to fruition while building a second academic home at the university. He says he is grateful for the warm welcome he has already received from the UCF community.

“As I embark on this exciting new chapter, I’m eager to work alongside such talented and passionate colleagues and students, united by a shared mission to advance coastal science and build resilient communities,” Haigh says. “Together, I’m confident we can make a lasting, meaningful impact that reaches far beyond our shores.”

Studying Across the Pond

At age 19, Haigh left Zambia to attend college in England. He enrolled in the University of Southampton, where he discovered his passion for the ocean.

“I vividly remember a lecture on tidal dynamics and sea level change, given by the late David Pugh, where everything clicked; I knew this was what I wanted to dedicate my life to,” Haigh says. “Since then, I’ve been fortunate to spend over 25 years exploring the complex and dynamic world of coastal science, working on [varied] and stunning coastlines across the globe.”

“I’ve been fortunate to spend over 25 years exploring the complex and dynamic world of coastal science, working on [varied] and stunning coastlines across the globe.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in oceanography, he worked in the industry before returning to the University of Southampton for his doctoral degree. He completed his postdoctoral studies in Australia before returning to his alma mater as a faculty member.

In addition to his work in academia, Haigh has contributed to several coastal projects around the globe. In Vietnam, he mapped the current and future flood risks of the Mekong River Delta, considered one of the world’s most sensitive coastal regions. In the U.K., he developed innovative methods to predict and manage coastal erosion and flood risks, leading to the creation of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, which protects London from flooding. He also has current partnerships with government agencies in the U.K., the U.S. and the Netherlands to explore how storm surge barriers perform under extreme storms and long-term sea-level rise to ensure they stay effective for decades to come.

Although he will bring this experience and expertise to UCF, Haigh is leaving his first academic home behind. He says he’s grateful for the friendships and collaborations he’s developed over the years, but looks forward to doing the same at UCF.

“Leaving was not an easy choice; Southampton holds deep professional and personal connections for me,” Haigh says. “But the chance to lead UCF Coastal was too exciting to pass up.”