Storm surge

A storm surge reflects the difference between the actual water level under the influence of a meteorological disturbance (storm tide) and the level which would have occurred in the absence of the meteorological disturbance (WMO, 2008, 2011, 2017).

A storm surge is the rise in seawater level caused solely by a storm. It is the abnormal rise in seawater level during a strom, measures as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide. The surge is caused primarily by a storm's winds pushing water onshore.

Storm surge should not be confused with storm tide. A storm tide is the water level that results from the combination of the storm surge and the normal (astronomical tide).

This rise in water level can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas, resulting from storm tides reaching up to 6 meters (20 feet) or more in some cases (NOAA, 2019b.) On top of a strom tide are pounding waves generated by the powerful winds. The area of seawater flooding may extend along the coast for over 100 km, with water pushing several kilometres inland if the land is low lying. The combined effects of the storm tide and surface waves can destroy buildings, wash away roads and run ships aground (Australian Government, 2020).

Examples of National Alerting Parameters include storm surge warning issued in Canada (Government of Canada, 2019) and an Advisory for storm surge watch/warning issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO, 2017).

Different symbols of hazards and disasters.

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Latest Storm surge additions in the Knowledge Base

Research briefs

23 May 2023

Minimizing the risk of rising sea levels

Researchers of Kiel University model future urban development on European coasts.

University of Kiel

Woman carrying a basket walking through the sandy desert with her livestock.

Update

5 May 2023

Sand and dust storm research find answers with AI and ancient knowledge

The Middle East and North African region lose about $13 billion a year because of increasing sand and dust storms. By combining learnings from artificial intelligence and 3000-year-old sustainable methods, researchers might find ways to mitigate damages

Lund University

Update

2 May 2023

NOAA upgrades model to improve storm surge forecasting

Upgrade will enhance forecasts of storm surge during tropical cyclones.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Huge waves striking Newhaven breakwater, UK, during a winter storm

Research briefs

24 April 2023

120-year-old storm’s secrets key to judging weather risks

A severe windstorm that battered the UK more than a century ago produced some of the strongest winds that Britain has ever seen, a team of scientists have found after recovering old weather records.

University of Reading

An agronomist using a tablet computer collecting data with meteorological instrument to measure the wind speed, temperature and humidity and solar cell system in grape agricultural field.

Research briefs

12 April 2023

Scientists develop new way to measure wind

Using data from two NOAA satellites, University of Arizona researchers developed an algorithm for measuring wind via water vapor.

University of Arizona

Update

12 April 2023

Severe storm, supercell, and tornado trends

Severe storms account for nearly half (48%) of all billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. since 1980. The frequency of favorable tornado days (indicated by daily maximum significant tornado parameter values) has increased significantly.

Climate Central

Research briefs

10 April 2023

Study finds record-breaking rates of sea-level rise along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts since 2010

Scientists find record-breaking sea level rises in the U.S. Gulf Coast, which could leave cities such as Houston more vulnerable to severe storms and flooding in the coming decades than previously anticipated.

Tulane University