Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm, and whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. This dome of water (often 50-100 miles wide) sweeps the coastline near where the hurricanes eye makes landfall.
Storm surge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomic high tide from the observed storm tide. When storm surge is combined with a normal astronomical high tide, a storm tide is created. With the added effect of battering waves, the storm surge causes 9 out of 10 hurricane fatalities but because of improvements in forecasting, the spread of information and timely evacuations (all coupled with a little luck), the number of fatalities from hurricane storm surge has been drastically reduced over the past 30 years. However, the element of risk is always there.
With the enormous increase in coastal populations, it is more critical than ever to understand the risks from hurricane storm surge; and more importantly, heed the warnings and evacuation orders given by local emergency management officials.
The rise in water, coupled with the battering waves on top of the elevated water level is the reason that sometimes millions of people are urged to evacuate their coastal homes.
Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm, and whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. This dome of water (often 50-100 miles wide) sweeps the coastline near where the hurricanes eye makes landfall.
