AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you hear the words hurricane or tropical storm you probably think of damaging winds, heavy rain, the eyewall, and flash flooding. However, storm surge is often overlooked as the most dangerous impact in a tropical system.
If you live on or near the coastline in an area where tropical activity may occur, be aware of storm surge and its potentially life-threatening impacts.
According to the National Weather Service, “storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide.” In simpler terms, imagine water being pushed on to land by wind.
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There are many factors in forecasting storm surge from an impending tropical system — the storm’s location, angle of approach, strength, speed, and the astronomical tides all play a crucial role in determining the severity of storm surge. When you combine astronomical tides with storm surge, it becomes storm tide. Wave action can also add several feet to the overall water level.
Stronger storms with a lower central pressure will produce greater storm surge. The shape and environmental features of the coastline also determine if storm surge will be higher. Storm surge is considered minor between 1-3 feet, moderate between 3-6 feet, and severe above 6 feet.
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Texas has had multiple deadly storm surge occurrences in the last 50-100 years.
Some of the most notable hurricanes to strike the Lone Star State are Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2017) and Galveston Hurricane (1900). All three of these storms produced at least 10′ of storm surge along the Texas coast.
Ike took a very similar path to the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. Texas reported 74 fatalities and almost $30 billion dollars in damages from Ike. Hurricane Ike recorded the highest storm surge from a Category 2 hurricane.
Storm surge is the leading cause of fatalities in tropical systems. Remember to have a hurricane plan if you live near the coastline and heed warnings from the National Hurricane Center.