What Is a Storm Surge in a Hurricane? Understanding the Risks and Warnings

While hurricane winds can cause significant damage, water can be even more devastating. Storm surges accompany hurricanes, push water well above normal levels, and wreak havoc on communities. Imagine the ocean getting a significant push from intense hurricane winds. This creates a wall of water high enough to overtake sand, seawalls, and pour into homes and streets like a fast-moving river. That is storm surge. This sudden rise of sea levels can be up to 20 feet (or more). And it can cause flooding several miles inland from the shoreline.

Knowing the risks of a tidal surge and heeding warnings can be a lifesaver if you live in Florida or other areas affected by hurricanes.

How Hurricanes Cause Dangerous Storm Surges

How do hurricanes create these surges? Imagine a hurricane’s winds acting like a massive bulldozer. The intense hurricane winds pick up ocean water and push it towards land. The stronger the storm, the more significant the bulldozer effect, and the more water it pushes violently toward shore. Add in factors like how fast the storm is moving, the shape of the coast, and whether the area is low-lying, and you have a recipe for dangerous force and devestating flooding.

Take Hurricane Katrina, for example—tidal surge levels hit an astounding 28 feet in Mississippi. This caused widespread flooding both in coastal areas and inland neighborhoods previously marked as safe zones.

The Difference Between Storm Surge and Storm Tide

Storm surge and storm tide may sound similar, but they are partners in crime—not twins. A surge describes the extra water hurricane winds bring in. Storm tide describes the combined water levels of tidal surge plus astronomical tides.

Think of it like this: if a storm surge hits at high tide, you’re looking at new levels of flooding because the water is already higher on the shoreline. The simple difference can turn an already damaging surge into an even worse one.

Factors that Influence the Severity of a Storm Surge

The strength of a tidal surge depends on more than the power of a hurricane, even though that plays a significant role. Various factors can influence how much water gets pushed toward the coast, and together, they determine how intense the flooding will be.

For instance, a powerful hurricane will naturally push more water. However the storm’s size matters. A massive storm system can create a widespread surge, affecting a larger coastal area.

Other factors that affect storm surge severity include:

Storm Speed. Fast-moving hurricanes may feel like a quick, intense hit, but slower storms can create higher surges. When a storm lingers, it has more time to shove water toward the shore, leading to more severe flooding.
Angle of Approach. The direction the hurricane approaches the Florida coastline matters. A storm that hits the shore head-on generates a more substantial surge than one that brushes the coast. The angle can mean the difference between moderate flooding and severe catastrophe.
Shape of the Coastline. Some areas of Florida have a shallow offshore slope, making them more vulnerable to storm surges. Shallower waters have less resistance, so the storm’s high-speed winds can easily lift and push large volumes of water onto land.
Tidal Influence. Timing is everything. The combination can be devastating if a storm surge coincides with high tide. Tides can add several feet to surge height, amplifying its impact.
Geography and Barriers. Natural barriers like mangrove forests, dunes, wetlands, and coral reefs help absorb the impact of and protect us from storm surges. However, over time, Florida’s coastal defenses have weakened due to climate change and human development, making storm surges more dangerous for inland communities.

How Storm Surge Affect Florida’s Coastal Communities

Storm surges can be some of the most destructive forces unleashed by hurricanes. They bring water and chaos, wrecking homes, roads, and neighborhoods with severe flooding. Florida’s coastline, lined with bustling cities and popular tourist spots, is highly vulnerable to hurricane-caused storm surges.

For example, storm surges during Hurricane Michael in 2018 reached 14 feet in some areas, swallowing streets and buildings along the Gulf Coast. Damage from a single storm surge can total billions of dollars. This is especially true when they hit densely populated, low-lying areas where flooding can simultaneously affect thousands of properties and people. This has been seen when major surge events hit populated areas, such as Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, and others.

Even a moderate surge of 10 feet or less can turn daily life upside down for affected residents. Storm surge can wash houses off their foundations, flood them out, or tear them apart. Flooding can ruin furniture, damage electrical systems, and leave behind debris that may take months or years to clear. Storm surge also cause long-term ecological damage, like eroding beaches and dunes, weakening natural coastal barriers, and disrupting local ecosystems. The damage makes Florida coastlines even more vulnerable to future hurricanes.

Resources for Monitoring Storm Surges and Hurricane Updates

The National Hurricane Center (NHC): Provides real-time updates and detailed storm surge maps to track hurricanes in specific areas.

NOAA Weather Radio: Delivers continuous weather and emergency updates (works with or without internet or power).

Local News Stations and Social Media Platforms: Share real-time storm tracks, surge projections, and live footage.

State and Local Emergency Management Websites: Offers updated information on evacuation routes, shelter locations, and safety alerts.
- You can sign up for local alerts from your local county. A few local examples include:
  - Alert Lee – Lee County
  - Alert Collier – Collier County
  - Alert Sarasota – Sarasota County
  - Alert Tampa – City of Tampa

Reinforce Your Home with Eurex Shutters

Hurricanes and storm surges are powerful and unpredictable, but with preparation and vigilance, Florida homeowners can better protect themselves, their loved ones, and their properties from the worst impact. Installing residential flood barriers and hurricane protection products in Florida can help protect your home and family. As you get ready for the next hurricane season, consider Eurex Shutters for high-quality hurricane shutter and impact window installation.

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