The recent thread on where would you base your boat had a few veiled references to storm surge, so I thought it might be interesting to explore that issue more fully.
I do have some experience with storm surge having experienced surge of about 9' during hurricane Irene in Oriental, NC and noted the same from Florence. Also the effects of surge on Mexico Beach, Fl from hurricane Michael are well known.
Hurricane surge is wind driven tide rising due to strong or prolonged winds. In the case of Mexico Beach the winds weren't particularly prolonged but were very strong, maybe 150 mph. That pushed the water up to 10+'.
Irene's effect on NC was due to prolonged winds not so much wind strength which was Cat 1 or 2. The storm's track and slow passage through the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound let the wind build up its surge. If it had not partially stalled or had come on a different track, I suspect the surge would have been much less. I recall strong NE winds for about 24 hours before passage and the water was 6' high at least 8 hours before passage. Once the eye passed the tide quickly reversed and the tidal creek I was living on became a rushing river flowing out to the Neuse.
Florence's effect was due to stronger winds and a track that let the surge build up quickly.
So look at hurricane tracks along the coast and combine that with your own geography to see what might happen.
We currently live 6 mo out of the year in Punta Gorda, Fl. At one point the surge in PG was forecast to be 10+' from Irma. But Irma shifted its track and passed well to the east, resulting in NE wind down Charlotte Harbor pushing the water out, not producing surge. My neighbors tell me the canal in back of our condo was down to the mud before passage then quickly went up above normal afterwards. If Irma had tracked maybe 30 miles to the west, the wind would have been out of the SW which would have pushed water up into Charlotte Harbor and probably would have hit 10' or better. Most homes in PG are at 8-9' floor elevation so thousands would have had water damage.
What is the take away? Well if you are in a hurricane prone area and you live right on the coast, then 10+' of surge is possible. If you live inland from the coast on a long bay like Charlotte Harbor or Pamlico Sound, even though you won't be hit by ocean wind driven surge like Mexico Beach but it could be just as bad in the bay depending on its track.
The effects of global warming are another consideration. These include more severe storms and sea level rise over time.
For my money if I were in one of these areas (as I now am) I would want my house to be built up to at least a 12' floor elevation or live on the second floor or higher of a sturdily built condo.
David
I do have some experience with storm surge having experienced surge of about 9' during hurricane Irene in Oriental, NC and noted the same from Florence. Also the effects of surge on Mexico Beach, Fl from hurricane Michael are well known.
Hurricane surge is wind driven tide rising due to strong or prolonged winds. In the case of Mexico Beach the winds weren't particularly prolonged but were very strong, maybe 150 mph. That pushed the water up to 10+'.
Irene's effect on NC was due to prolonged winds not so much wind strength which was Cat 1 or 2. The storm's track and slow passage through the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound let the wind build up its surge. If it had not partially stalled or had come on a different track, I suspect the surge would have been much less. I recall strong NE winds for about 24 hours before passage and the water was 6' high at least 8 hours before passage. Once the eye passed the tide quickly reversed and the tidal creek I was living on became a rushing river flowing out to the Neuse.
Florence's effect was due to stronger winds and a track that let the surge build up quickly.
So look at hurricane tracks along the coast and combine that with your own geography to see what might happen.
We currently live 6 mo out of the year in Punta Gorda, Fl. At one point the surge in PG was forecast to be 10+' from Irma. But Irma shifted its track and passed well to the east, resulting in NE wind down Charlotte Harbor pushing the water out, not producing surge. My neighbors tell me the canal in back of our condo was down to the mud before passage then quickly went up above normal afterwards. If Irma had tracked maybe 30 miles to the west, the wind would have been out of the SW which would have pushed water up into Charlotte Harbor and probably would have hit 10' or better. Most homes in PG are at 8-9' floor elevation so thousands would have had water damage.
What is the take away? Well if you are in a hurricane prone area and you live right on the coast, then 10+' of surge is possible. If you live inland from the coast on a long bay like Charlotte Harbor or Pamlico Sound, even though you won't be hit by ocean wind driven surge like Mexico Beach but it could be just as bad in the bay depending on its track.
The effects of global warming are another consideration. These include more severe storms and sea level rise over time.
For my money if I were in one of these areas (as I now am) I would want my house to be built up to at least a 12' floor elevation or live on the second floor or higher of a sturdily built condo.
David
