Temporary rise in sea level driven by low pressure and wind, superimposed on the tide. For example, We issued a surge-driven coastal alert 12 hours ahead of peak tide.

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Storm surge

Temporary rise in sea level driven by low pressure and wind, superimposed on the tide.

Example Usage

"We issued a surge-driven coastal alert 12 hours ahead of peak tide."

Typical Units & Data

Surge height (m)

Related Keywords

storm surge forecast surge height coastal water level wind setup

Related Terms

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Fluvial flooding

Flooding from rivers/streams when discharge exceeds channel capacity or defences are overtopped..

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Pluvial flooding (surface water)

Flooding from intense rainfall when drainage/infiltration capacity is exceeded, often in urban areas..

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Coastal flooding

Flooding from sea water due to high tide, storm surge, waves, overtopping or breaching..

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Groundwater flooding

Flooding when groundwater rises to the surface, often after prolonged rainfall in permeable geology..

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Flash flood

Rapid-onset flooding with very short lead times (minutes to hours), typically from intense rainfall..

Flood Mechanisms & Drivers

Tide locking

Restricted river outflow because high sea levels prevent discharge at an outfall, backing water upstream..

FloodWatch Resources

Live Flood Warnings Multi-Site Monitoring

Put This Knowledge to Work

FloodWatch monitors flood risk across your entire portfolio using official EA, NRW, and SEPA data.

Try the Demo View Pricing