What is storm surge? Rising water and flooding the most deadly parts of a hurricane [Video]

What is storm surge, and how serious is it? You’ve heard WRAL meteorologists discuss storm surge and the damage high water levels can cause, especially during major hurricanes. As it turns out, storm surge can be the most deadly part of a hurricane.

What is storm surge?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines storm surge as the rise in seawater level caused solely by a storm. When combined with normal tides, storm surge can increase the ocean’s water level by 30 feet or more.

According to NOAA, storm surge is the water pushed toward shore by hurricane-force winds while storm tide is the total observed seawater level during a storm, a combination of storm surge and normal high tide.

Storm surge is deadly

When people think of the life-threatening dangers from hurricanes, they probably think of strong winds, but most hurricane deaths are actually caused by flooding and storm surge.

According to the National Hurricane Center, nearly …