storm surge

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destruction caused by a storm surge

Choppy, high water from storm surge covers the shoreline at Sandgate in Brisbane, Australia, with overcast skies and trees visible along the coast after Cyclone Marcia.

Floodwaters from Hurricane Gustav submerge a railroad crossing, traffic signs, and power poles on an industrial street in New Orleans, with only sign tops visible above the water.

A line graph compares types of surface waves by energy and wave frequency, showing ordinary tide waves, long-period waves, wind waves, and capillary waves, with causes such as wind, storms, and earthquakes labeled above each category.

Satellite image showing three labeled hurricanes—Florence, Isaac, and Helene—across the Atlantic Ocean in September 2018.

storm surge

oceanography

Also known as: wind surge

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July 23, 2026

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destruction caused by a storm surge — destruction caused by a storm surge A house remains standing amidst many destroyed structures after a storm surge swept through Gilchrist, Texas, U.S., as a result of Hurricane Ike in September 2008.

A storm surge is a significant rise in sea level that occurs along a coast, often associated with tropical storms and tropical cyclones. It is primarily caused by the friction between strong winds in the storm and the ocean surface, which pushes water towards the shore. While changes in atmospheric pressure also contribute, their effect is less pronounced due to water's density. Storm surges can exacerbate flooding from heavy rains and are responsible for most deaths related to tropical cyclone landfalls, with historical examples including devastating events in Galveston, Texas, and East Pakistan. The intensity and impact of a storm surge depend on the storm's characteristics and coastal geography.12

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surge
…context, they are known as storm surges. They can also be generated by local storms over inland seas and lakes.
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…context, they are known as storm surges. They can also be generated by local storms over inland seas and lakes.
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Hurricane Katrina
Landfall along the Gulf Coast
Mississippi a storm surge more than 26 feet (7.9 meters) high slammed into the coastal cities of Gulfport and Biloxi, devastating homes and resorts along the beachfront. Along some parts of the Mississippi coast, the storm surge was reported to have been as high as 28 feet…
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Mississippi a storm surge more than 26 feet (7.9 meters) high slammed into the coastal cities of Gulfport and Biloxi, devastating homes and resorts along the beachfront. Along some parts of the Mississippi coast, the storm surge was reported to have been as high as 28 feet…
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tropical cyclone
The storm surge
In coastal regions an elevation of sea level—the storm surge—is often the deadliest phenomenon associated with tropical cyclones. A storm surge accompanying an intense tropical cyclone can be as high as 6 metres (20 feet). Most of the surge is caused by friction…
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In coastal regions an elevation of sea level—the storm surge—is often the deadliest phenomenon associated with tropical cyclones. A storm surge accompanying an intense tropical cyclone can be as high as 6 metres (20 feet). Most of the surge is caused by friction…
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wave
Wind surges
Running wind surges are long waves caused by a piling up of the water over a large area through the action of a traveling wind or pressure field. Examples include the surge in front of a traveling storm cyclone, particularly the devastating hurricane…
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Running wind surges are long waves caused by a piling up of the water over a large area through the action of a traveling wind or pressure field. Examples include the surge in front of a traveling storm cyclone, particularly the devastating hurricane…
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