Global sea levels could increase by 1 foot by 2050 from their current level at the start of the millennium. Iconic beaches, large city centers, and quaint coastal towns must all be adapted to higher water levels. It will also put more inland neighborhoods at risk of storm surges during hurricanes and high tides, and more residents will face the brunt of shifting waters. And though 12 inches of additional ocean water might sound like an exaggeration, a study published in the journal Nature in March 2026 shows that sea level predictions might actually affect more people than previously thought, indicating that planning for resilience has become paramount for our planet's future.
To that end, sea level researchers utilize wind and water machines to simulate hurricane conditions at Florida International University in Miami, where seas are expected to rise by 10 to 17 inches between 2000 and 2040. That way, experts can design buildings strong enough to withstand higher ocean levels and future extreme weather events.
Yet studies suggest we may need to implement these plans faster than ever. In September 2026, the World Meteorological Organization made an urgent declaration that sea level rise will soon have catastrophic effects worldwide. Though the WMO urges global action to mitigate the effects of the rising tides, these changes can already be felt around the world today. In California, for example, strong tides battered coastal communities and flooded suburban streets in early October 2026.
Continued extreme weather events highlight the urgency of infrastructure fixes to mitigate sea level rise. But such plans are often expensive, and challenging for smaller communities to implement. Solutions like paying to move and demolish waterfront houses are understandably unpopular with homeowners, and beach nourishment, or adding more sand to the shoreline, is a costly and temporary solution.
The Sea Level Rise Viewer, the rise in recent years as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, visualizes community-level impacts from coastal flooding and sea level rise across the coastal contiguous United States. The rise in sea level will be far-reaching on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the U.S., but the increase in sea level will not affect the world equally. Some impacted countries, such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and small South Pacific islands, will have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.
An analysis from Carbon Brief found the U.S. was responsible for releasing over 500 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 1850, or 20% of the world's historical total. Other major emitters include China (11%) and Russia (7%). As human activity releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, their heat-trapping characteristics fuel the warmer weather that causes sea level rise.
Ocean water naturally expands with warmer temperatures. Along with meltwater from shrinking Arctic glaciers pouring into the world's oceans, global mean sea levels are increasing. Emissions currently in the atmosphere mean sea level rise can't be stopped, but lower emissions scenarios can slow its pace.
Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's technical report, released in 2022, Stacker identified projected sea level rise by 2050 for 40 cities in the U.S. The report identifies five sea level rise scenarios based on changes by 2100 from 2000 levels. They are low (an average of 1 foot globally), intermediate-low (1.6 feet), intermediate (3.3 feet), intermediate-high (4.9 feet), and high (6.6 feet). For each, projections under low, medium, and high emissions scenarios are included. Stacker focused on each low, intermediate, and high sea level rise emissions scenario.
Unlike most places on this list, cities in Alaska are seeing falling sea levels, as the land is rising with shifting tectonic plates. Read on to see where major coastal cities in the U.S. stand.
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1 / 40- NOAA Region: National
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: -0.7 feet
--- High emissions: -0.5 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: -0.6 feet
--- High emissions: -0.3 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: -0.2 feet
--- High emissions: 0.3 feet
Canva
2 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.7 feet
--- High emissions: 2.2 feet
Canva
3 / 40- NOAA Region: Northwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.1 feet
--- High emissions: 0.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
Canva
4 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 1.7 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.3 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.7 feet
--- High emissions: 2.3 feet
Canva
5 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
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Canva
6 / 40- NOAA Region: Eastern Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.8 feet
--- High emissions: 2.3 feet
Canva
7 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Canva
8 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Canva
9 / 40- NOAA Region: Southeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.1 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
10 / 40- NOAA Region: Western Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.8 feet
--- High emissions: 2.3 feet
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Canva
11 / 40- NOAA Region: Eastern Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.1 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
12 / 40- NOAA Region: Southeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Paul S. Wolf // Shutterstock
13 / 40- NOAA Region: Western Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 1.8 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.8 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 2.2 feet
--- High emissions: 2.8 feet
Canva
14 / 40- NOAA Region: Western Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 1.9 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 2.1 feet
--- High emissions: 2.6 feet
Daniel Carlson // Shutterstock
15 / 40- NOAA Region: Western Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.7 feet
--- High emissions: 1.9 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 2.0 feet
--- High emissions: 2.3 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 2.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 2.4 feet
--- High emissions: 2.9 feet
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Canva
16 / 40- NOAA Region: Hawaiian Islands
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.7 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.2 feet
Canva
17 / 40- NOAA Region: Hawaiian Islands
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.6 feet
--- High emissions: 0.7 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
18 / 40- NOAA Region: National
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -2.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: -1.9 feet
--- High emissions: -1.8 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -1.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: -1.6 feet
--- High emissions: -1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -1.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: -1.2 feet
--- High emissions: -0.8 feet
Canva
19 / 40- NOAA Region: Southeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Canva
20 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.3 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.7 feet
--- High emissions: 2.2 feet
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Canva
21 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.3 feet
--- High emissions: 0.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.6 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
Canva
22 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.3 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.5 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.7 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
Canva
23 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.2 feet
Canva
24 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
25 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
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Canva
26 / 40- NOAA Region: Eastern Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.4 feet
--- High emissions: 1.9 feet
Canva
27 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
28 / 40- NOAA Region: Northwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.1 feet
--- High emissions: 0.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
Canva
29 / 40- NOAA Region: Northwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.2 feet
--- High emissions: 0.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.5 feet
--- High emissions: 0.8 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
Canva
30 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.1 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.9 feet
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Canva
31 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.2 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Canva
32 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.5 feet
--- High emissions: 0.6 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.7 feet
Canva
33 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.5 feet
--- High emissions: 0.6 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.8 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.2 feet
--- High emissions: 1.7 feet
Canva
34 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.3 feet
--- High emissions: 0.4 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.6 feet
--- High emissions: 0.8 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.5 feet
Canva
35 / 40- NOAA Region: Southwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.3 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.5 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.7 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
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Canva
36 / 40- NOAA Region: Northwest
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.4 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.6 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.6 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.7 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
Canva
37 / 40- NOAA Region: Eastern Gulf
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.0 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Canva
38 / 40- NOAA Region: National
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -0.5 feet
--- Medium emissions: -0.4 feet
--- High emissions: -0.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: -0.3 feet
--- Medium emissions: -0.1 feet
--- High emissions: 0.2 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.4 feet
--- High emissions: 0.9 feet
Canva
39 / 40- NOAA Region: Northeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.8 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.0 feet
--- High emissions: 1.3 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.0 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.3 feet
--- High emissions: 1.6 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.2 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.6 feet
--- High emissions: 2.1 feet
Canva
40 / 40- NOAA Region: Southeast
- Low sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.7 feet
--- Medium emissions: 0.9 feet
--- High emissions: 1.1 feet
- Intermediate sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 0.9 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.1 feet
--- High emissions: 1.4 feet
- High sea level rise scenarios:
--- With low emissions: 1.1 feet
--- Medium emissions: 1.5 feet
--- High emissions: 2.0 feet
Data reporting by Emma Rubin. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Ania Antecka.
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