Why can long shallow gulfs experience dangerous storm surges?

Long, shallow gulfs are particularly susceptible to dangerous storm surges because of the physical interaction between wind and water. When winds from the sea are protracted, they exert friction on the water surface, effectively piling it up in the direction of the wind.12

In a shallow, long gulf, this wind-driven water has nowhere to go, causing a significant rise in water levels at the head of the gulf. Because the water is shallow, the volume of water being pushed by the wind can cause a more dramatic increase in height compared to deeper, open-ocean environments. These high water levels can lead to severe flooding, which is often the most dangerous aspect of such weather events. These phenomena are notoriously difficult to predict, posing a significant risk to coastal populations.132