"storm surge" 21:26 Nov 18, 2020
At least in tv-meteorologist-speak, at least in the U.S., the term "storm surge" is used in at least two different senses: 1."A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones." (cribbed straight out of Wikipedia); & 2. "It is measured as the rise in water level above the normal tidal level, and does not include waves." (cribbed from the same Wikipedia article). So the term can refer both to the process that causes a temporary rise in water levels near coastlines, & to the magnitude of that rise. Steven is right in his explanation, but tv weather persons are not so scrupulous in distinguishing between the two senses of the term - they typically will just say "a storm surge of 11 ft.", etc. |