What is storm surge? Explaining the phenomenon in relation to Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida, lets learn more about storm surge.

[JamesBarry-jm]

Thank you for your simple clear but precise definition of storm surges

[kimlarge]

Insurance companies are figuring out their new rate hikes as we speak.

[bigbratt]

I live in Florida & I will say we’ve had a few bad hurricanes but definitely have been dodging them for the past few years now . I usually overlook them because lately our hurricanes have been nothing short of a rainy day . But the thought of a 20 ft storm surge send literal CHILLS down my spine !

[non-stop-nomad]

Prayers and ❤ from Thailand. May everyone in Florida be safe.

[kgw]

Lower air pressure, since storms are low pressure zones, will decrease pressure down on the water causing it to rise and be more affected by wind

[jessemook]

11 years ago I moved back to the US from the Philippines. 2 days before the largest storm ever (to that point) hit. “Storm Surge” was a new phrase and people didn’t know what it meant. So when a 20’ storm surge hit, it killed so many people. Really could have used a video like this back then.

[whtsxka]

Prayers going out to all effected. That sucks big time

[sakie]

Thanks, I had been wondering about what it really was.

[sumguy]

It more than just wind, its the extremely low pressure that create a dome of water under the hurricane. So as the hurricane makes landfall, so dose this dome of water.

[TyBreezin]

storm surge is when you don't do enough damage in competitive modes so you take damage over time until you meet or exceed the current damage threshold

[southernsweetgirl]

3 yrs ago we started to pack up and move from Oklahoma to Destin
We go every summer and we love it that much. It's times like mow I'm glad we didn't. My heart breaks for everyone in the paths of hurricanes. Luckily they have a season and nit all yr round like we do tornadoes and have atleast a week warming unlike tornadoes. We prob are still goin to move there but not beach front like our original plan. Prayers for everyone has Mr. Milton grows and pushes foward. Noone can convince me that these aren't boosted (strength wise) by man.

[kbrown]

The tide levels also affect storm surges.

[_casg]

I experience cat 5, twice ever.
And as long as you live in a condo apartment away from the marinas. You good.

[fmcdomer]

Why don't they build with hurricanes in mind

[helenazalom]

I live on a barrier island on the east coast and grew up with hurricanes and nor’easters. I don’t remember hearing about storm surges until 2012 and Sandy. Is this something that’s happening in a changing climate? Is it because the storms are more severe or because there’s more water (melting glaciers)? It seems that these surges are the most destructive part of the storms.

[b]

A storm surge is a movement moving from the ocean’s surface to maybe 15 feet in a circular radius down to the ocean depths. Out in the deep ocean most this liquid wave is mostly underwater but at the shoreline this circular liquid wave is well above your house and rolling inland at an intense speed. It’s a rolling liquid catastrophe.

[Stacy]

How far inland from the coast line will the storm surge go?

[HappyGothGal]

Would a fully solid metal walled house complete with Rick & Morty-style solid metal ascending storm windows ensure that a house on the coast would survive and not be filled with water?

[zAlaska]

I guess there wasn't really time to go into the deeper details. How high can a 12 ft storm surge reach traveling Upland. With no rainfall, is the house at 25 ft elevation safe from the 12 ft storm surge? Depending, I think not.
Remembering the 30-foot or 30 m tsunami that struck Japan 4 - 4 - 11 crippling the Fukushima nuclear power campus, among the Myriad of stories was the new Lake created high in the mountains as a stream reversed. Similarly, at the Three Gorges Hydro Reservoir maximum fill level is well below the altitude of Chongqing that many undereducated planners did not understand how thick and strong the pushback on the water flow. The expert who brought the subject up was dismissed, perhaps in more way than one. The city above the Three Gorges Dam floods unexpectedly frequently because of the solid resistance to the water flow from the damn well below altitude.
Can a 20-foot surge flood an altitude of 100 ft far from Shore? I believe so from examples I've seen in the past. Add to that the rainfall piling up and blocked by the ocean water coming in similarly to the Three Gorges Dam. 18 in of rain in one day, more or less, at what altitude is one safe from flood water?
A 12 ft storm search. Someone who's at 30 ft is safe or needs to hurry up and evacuate? Sounds safe to me without the true physics behind me just remain at my location if I'm at 30 ft. A false sense of security as most people don't understand the physics but have common sense that indicates a 30 FT elevation is more than safe when in actuality saltwater may pass by that very location.

[idkidk]

Still don't understand why people would live in a place with hurricanes