Storm surge, rainfall flooding, destructive winds, tornadoes, and coastal erosion: the full spectrum of hurricane hazards, how they form, and how to survive them.
U.S. Coast Guard · Public domain Storm surge kills more people than any other hurricane hazard. This is a complete explainer on how it forms, what controls its height, and what it means for coastal communities.
Read the Full Article →Compound flooding occurs when storm surge, heavy rainfall, swollen rivers, and high tide hit together during a hurricane, producing flooding far worse than any single driver alone.
The science of how hurricanes produce rain and what controls how much falls: tropical moisture, the warm core, forward speed, stalling, and terrain.
Distant hurricanes send long-period swell hundreds of miles to sunny beaches, where rip currents become a leading surf-zone killer. How to spot and escape them.
How tropical cyclones produce extreme rainfall and inland freshwater flooding. Learn about the factors that determine flood risk and how to protect yourself from hurricane rainfall hazards.
How hurricane waves form, why they reach 50-90 feet (15-27 m) during major storms, and how they combine with storm surge to reshape coastal barriers and beaches.