What is storm surge? Explaining a hurricane’s deadliest and most destructive threat

• Storm surge has accounted for about half of the deaths in hurricanes since 1970.
• In addition to being the deadliest threat, storm surge is also typically the most destructive part of a hurricane.
• Climate change could worsen storm surge, one recent study suggests.

Storm surge, the massive amount of water that builds up and comes ashore during a hurricane, is often the deadliest and most destructive threat from these devastating storms.

Storm surge has accounted for about half of all the deaths in hurricanes since 1970, according to the National Hurricane Center. It caused most of the 1,800 deaths in Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Storm surge is characterized by water being pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds moving around the storm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  said.

Storm surge watches and warnings are now separated from hurricane alerts because hurricane-force winds and storm surges don’t always occur at the same place or the same time, said Rick Knabb, former director of the Hurricane Center and now the hurricane expert at the Weather Channel.

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Preparing for hurricane-force winds is different than for storm surge, he said. For storm surge, people should evacuate; for wind, they can stay in place in a strong structure as long as it’s away from flood-prone areas, Knabb said.

What is a storm surge warning?

A “storm surge watch” is issued when flooding is possible, while a “warning” is issued when flooding is expected. Every coastal city along the Gulf or East Coast of the U.S. is at risk of storm surge, the center said.

In addition to being the deadliest threat, storm surge is also typically the most destructive part of a hurricane. In Hurricane Sandy in 2012, storm surge-induced flooding measured as high as nine feet above ground in parts of New York and New Jersey, leading to billions of dollars in damage.

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The damage occurred even though Sandy spun ashore as the equivalent of only a Category 1 hurricane, with winds of about 80 mph, and was downgraded below hurricane status shortly thereafter.

How is storm surge measured?

According to NOAA, storm surge is measured through a series of tidal gages, high water marks and pressure sensors located throughout the U.S.

What is the SLOSH model? How do you calculate storm surge?

The SLOSH model (which is an acronym for Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) is the primary computer model that the National Hurricane Center uses to forecast and calculate storm surge. The model inputs data that includes the central pressure of a tropical cyclone, storm size, the cyclone’s forward motion, its track, and maximum sustained winds.