How the wobble moon coupled with rising sea levels could lead to major coastal flooding

You may have heard rumors of a wobble moon set to cause major flooding in the 2030s over the course of the last few days. Wobble moons are not a new development, but with current ocean trends, we could be looking at a catastrophic event during the next decade. 

First off, it’s important to discuss how the moon impacts tidal flow. Essentially, the moon’s gravitational pull causes either high or low tides as the water is pulled in either direction. In the case of a wobble moon, high tide events are typically more impactful with higher tides recorded. These events typically happen every 18.6 years, and scientists have tracked them for hundreds of years. 

So why are we concerned about the next wobble moon event? Well, sea water levels are higher than they have ever been due to a number of factors, and those water levels are set to continue rising by 1/8th of an inch per year if current trends continue. With higher sea levels already causing more coastal flooding events, the wobble moon’s higher tide will likely bring more water over the shoreline of our coastal areas. 

We’re still several years out from this event, but coastal cities will need to prepare in advance for this onslaught of water.