A journal Nature Climate Change-published research has unveiled that three factors, sea-level rise, storm surges and heavy rainfall, are posing increased risk to residents living in many US cities.

One of the study researchers Steven Meyers from the University of South Florida said that the team has taken the help of historical data of rainfall, tide gauge readings and extreme weather conditions to know more about the risks that can threaten stretches of the US coast.

Study’s lead researcher Thomas Wahl, with the College of Marine Science and the University of Siegen in Germany has stated that compound flooding takes when strong storms combine with high amounts of rainfall. These factors when clubbed with rise in sea levels could prove devastating for low-lying, densely populated and heavily developed regions.

“Our analysis showed that over the past century, the number of compound flood events for many U.S. coastal cities has increased”, affirmed Wahl. The researchers said around 40% of the US population lives in coastal counties.

Therefore, impact of flooding could be devastating in terms of wide-ranging social, economic, and environmental consequences. The researchers have affirmed that the average flood claims between 2010 and 2014 was around $42,000.

It shall be noted that the number does not include those being displaced in a severe flooding event. This is the reason that the researchers have been trying to know about the factors that contribute to flooding.