ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay area still reels from Hurricane Helene's record-breaking storm surge, some residents may be wondering what it is and what they should know before Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
The National Weather Service defines storm surge as the abnormal rise of water over and above the predicted tides. This rise in water level can cause extreme flooding.
Storm surge poses the greatest threat to life and property for residents along the coast. Tampa Bay locals should know their evacuation zones in their respective counties before Milton makes landfall.
How to see your threat of storm surge
There is an interactive tool from the National Hurricane Center that shows the threats on a map.
This tool allows users to zoom in on their home or area to see the potential storm surge flooding. Click here to use it.
If the threat is greater than 1 foot and there are mandatory evacuations, residents should consider leaving the area. The peak storm surge from Hurricane Milton is currently 8-12-plus feet, according to hurricane forecasters.
Factors that impact surge
Storm surge is produced by water being pushed toward the shore by the force of winds moving around the storm. The potential for surge depends on multiple factors:
- Wind intensity
- Size of wind field (the three-dimensional pattern of winds)
- Length of wind (time)
- Storm pressure
- Speed of storm
- Angle of attack
- How deep the ocean or bay is
To keep track of Hurricane Milton's progress, click here. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Tampa Bay area.
