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    • What is a storm surge? How far inland will Hurricane Milton’s storm surge travel?
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    What is a storm surge? How far inland will Hurricane Milton’s storm surge travel?

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    Storm surge is one of the deadliest components of large, devastating hurricanes like Hurricane Milton. But reverse storm surges are a much rarer, strange phenomenon that sometimes occurs during large storms.

    Depending on where and how Hurricane Milton hits Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening, Tampa Bay could be inundated by storm surge or be completely dry for a period of time. Forecasters say Tampa Bay will likely experience a reverse storm surge as Milton makes landfall south of Tampa.

    Here’s what a reverse storm surge is and which places are the most chaotic and calm during a major hurricane like Milton.

    How does a storm surge work? What is a reverse storm surge?

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    Storm Surge Video: Dangerous Hurricane Flooding Explained

    Storm surges pose a significant threat to life and property along the coast.

    In case you don’t know, storm surges are a deadly and unusual rise in water levels that occur in coastal areas during severe storms. Storm surges occur because the strong winds of hurricanes push excess water onto the coast.

    “Storm surge is the abnormal rise in sea water levels during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide,” NOAA’s website says. “The increase is primarily caused by storm winds pushing water onto land.”

    A reverse storm surge occurs when the storm’s winds push the excess water away from the shore instead of pushing it toward the shore. This happened during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut told USA TODAY it could happen again if Milton makes landfall south of Tampa Bay.

    Map of expected storm surge for Hurricane Milton

    The latest forecast as Milton Barrel heads toward Florida calls for possible storm surge flooding of 9 to 13 feet above ground level in some areas. Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected in areas north and south of the hurricane’s landfall, and even along the state’s east coast as the hurricane passes.

    How far inland will the storm surge reach?

    Undoubtedly, a storm surge will devastate beaches and buildings, marinas and boardwalks along the coast. However, the National Weather Service also warns that a combination of storm surge and heavy rain could flood rivers, tributaries and other low-lying areas. Canals and streams can turn into rivers and mudslides can be triggered in valleys. Flood protection systems and barriers can be stressed by the storm surge.

    Streets and parking lots could become raging rivers and underpasses could be flooded. Do not drive into flood waters.

    Which is worse: the right side or the left side of a hurricane?

    Tropical cyclones are usually fairly symmetrical, meaning that strong winds and rainfall are fairly evenly distributed throughout the system.

    But hurricanes move more strongly and have a less symmetrical structure, meaning there is one side of the storm that is more intense and dangerous than the other, with stronger winds. This is often referred to as the “dirty side” of a hurricane and is on the right side, in Milton’s case the east side, of a hurricane.

    “The ‘right side’ refers to the direction of the storm’s movement in the Northern Hemisphere. When a hurricane moves west, the right side is north of the storm. As it moves north, the right side will be east of the storm,” the NOAA website says.

    “In the Southern Hemisphere, this is reversed, as the winds of a tropical cyclone there wind clockwise around its center, as opposed to counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.”

    Why are the winds stronger on the dirty side of a hurricane?

    The right side of a hurricane is stronger and more dangerous because that is where the winds that “steer” the storm come from.

    “The right side of the hurricane (relative to its direction of travel) is the most dangerous part of the storm due to the addition of the hurricane’s wind speed and the speed of the larger atmospheric current (the steering winds),” according to NSF Unidata, a program of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

    “The stronger winds to the right will increase the storm surge described in the Hazards section of this module. Tornadoes are also more common here.”

    Where is the calmest part of a hurricane?

    In case you don’t know, the center or “eye” of a storm is the calmest part. Ironically, the calmest part of the storm is surrounded by the most chaotic part, namely the eyewall.

    “The center of the hurricane is a relatively calm, generally clear area of ​​sinking air and light winds, typically not exceeding 15 mph (24 km/h) and typically 20-40 miles (32-64 km) in diameter.” says NOAA’s website.

    “The eyewall consists of a ring of high thunderstorms that produce heavy rainfall and usually the strongest winds. Changes in the structure of the eye and eyewall can lead to changes in wind speed, which is an indicator of the intensity of the storm. The eye may become larger or smaller and double (concentric) eye walls may form.”

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    Caradoc Wyn
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