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> Disasters > Storm Surge
 
Ignore
a storm surge and you'll be in deep water!
A storm surge
is a raised dome of sea water typically 60km to 80km across and
2 metres to 5 metres above the normal sea level.
As a cyclone
reaches the coast the huge winds whip up the sea and push the
dome of water over low-lying coastal areas.
The waves
and sea water can move inland quite quickly, damaging buildings
and cutting off escape routes. There is a high risk of drowning.
A storm surge
is not the same as a tidal wave (which is a towering wall of sea
water which comes crashing into shore). A storm surge comes in
like a rapidly rising tide but it can be extremely dangerous and
destructive.
The height
of the storm surge will depend on the following:
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The intensity
of the cyclone - the stronger the winds the higher the surge. |
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The speed
of the cyclone - the faster the cyclone crosses the coast
the higher the surge. |
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The angle
at which the cyclone crosses the coast - a right angle crossing
will increase the surge. |
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The shape
of the sea floor - the more gentle the slope the greater the
surge. |
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Local
features such as bays, head lands or islands can funnel the
surge and amplify its height. |
If the cyclone
crosses the coast at high tide, the flooding will be at its worst.
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