NORFOLK, Va. — Hurricanes bring about many hazards, such as damaging winds, heavy, flooding rainfall, and storm surge.
Storm surge happens when the strong winds of the hurricane blow over the ocean or gulf water, literally forcing the water to pile up as it approaches the coast.
RELATED: 13News Now Hurricane Guide
That can cause the water level to jump anywhere from one foot to well over 20 feet above normal levels. This inundates low-lying coastal areas and causes the most significant damages from a hurricane.
But wind speed isn’t the only factor in determining a potential surge effect. The storm’s size, intensity, shape, speed, and angle of approach all matter, along with the coast and slope of the ocean floor.
And remember this: the category ranking of a storm doesn’t always correlate to the storm surge threat.
Weaker category 1 or 2 storms have been known to produce higher surges than their stronger counterparts. So, it’s important to listen for and understand those storm surge warnings so you can react early and quickly to keep you and your family safe!
RELATED: Hurricane storm surge: 3 Fast Facts