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

Update

25 November 2022

Making sure storm, flood and cyclone preparation message isn't lost in translation

In times of disaster, the key is preparation, and people are urged to develop their evacuation plans before the crisis hits. When English isn't your first language, it can be even more challenging knowing how to prepare.

ABC News

Update

21 November 2022

NASA’s drifting climate satellites could find new life as wildfire and storm watchers

Crossing the Arctic Ocean earlier and later in the day, the satellites will reveal exchanges heat with the atmosphere at previously unobserved times. And Aqua will be primed to explore the severe storms and wildfires that tend to peak in late afternoon.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Update

17 November 2022

WFP, UK, Germany and World Bank come together to expand risk financing for communities vulnerable to climate shocks

The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Bank signed an agreement today to scale up disaster risk protection financed by Germany and the United Kingdom for vulnerable communities and nations faced with catastrophic climate extremes.

World Food Programme

Update

20 September 2022

Better storm surge and flood predictions enabled by AI

The LSU-developed tool to predict storm surge and flooding during severe weather events has become an essential resource for thousands of emergency managers and first responders in Louisiana and the nation’s coastal states to help protect infrastructure.

Louisiana State University

Documents and publications

26 October 2022

Guidelines on the implementation of a Coastal Inundation Forecasting Early Warning System

The guidelines offer solid and practical advice for countries, donors and experts seeking to set up early warning systems against an increasing hazard.

Research briefs

29 September 2022

Arctic sea ice loss leads to more frequent strong El Niño events

Over the last 40 years, a rapid shrinking of Arctic sea ice has been one of the most significant indicators of climate change. The amount of sea ice that survives the Arctic summer has declined 13 percent per decade since the late 1970s.

University at Albany

Research briefs

12 October 2022

Under pressure: Rethinking Connecticut's coastal land use and adaptation strategies

The sea level is rising, and the clock is ticking in the effort to make Connecticut's coastline more resilient in the face of climate change

University of Connecticut

Update

12 October 2022

Coastal erosion is unstoppable – so how do we live with it?

A record storm surge in 1953 devastated much of eastern England’s coast, prompting prolific investment in concrete sea walls, wooden groynes and other engineered structures designed to protect the coastline from erosion.

Conversation Media Group, the