storm surge
Hurricane's rising waters
Storm surge is the abnormal rise of seawater driven onto shore by a storm's winds, distinct from normal tides.
Hurricanes and other intense coastal storms push massive volumes of water inland, often causing more destruction than the wind itself: The storm surge flooded entire neighborhoods.
The term appears constantly in hurricane coverage and evacuation warnings.
Coastal erosion barrier
- barrier islandSandy strip guarding shoreline
- erosionGradual wearing away
- overwashWater crossing a barrier
- coastlineLand-water boundary
dune · estuary · mangrove · groyne · levee · breakwater · jetty · tidal flooding
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- eyewallHurricane's central windband
- landfallReaching shore after voyage
- windspeedRate of air movement
barometric pressure · hurricane category · tropical cyclone · nor'easter · superstorm · Katrina · Sandy · sustained winds
Overwhelming surge of water
- submergePlunge beneath liquid
- engulfCompletely surround and cover
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- highwaterPeak tidal elevation
overflow · backwater · floodwaters · water level · flood stage · battering · swamping · flood zone
Removal from danger
- warningAlert about danger
- preparednessState of being equipped
- shelterProtected place or structure
- first respondersPersonnel arriving at emergencies initially
rescue · displacement · casualties · relief · aid · mandatory evacuation · evacuation zone · emergency management
Severe widespread destruction
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- aftermathResults following an event
- damageHarm or impairment
collapse · flattening · ruins · obliteration · debris · total loss · structural damage · property damage
Increasing ocean surface height
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- extreme weatherUnusual, dangerous atmospheric events
- ocean warmingRising marine temperatures
intensification · frequency · climate adaptation · resilience · climate modeling
seawall
Coastal erosion barrier
- barrier islandSandy strip guarding shoreline
- erosionGradual wearing away
- overwashWater crossing a barrier
coastline · dune · estuary · mangrove · groyne · levee · breakwater · jetty · tidal flooding · low-lying
cyclone
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- eyewallHurricane's central windband
- landfallReaching shore after voyage
windspeed · barometric pressure · hurricane category · tropical cyclone · nor'easter · superstorm · Katrina · Sandy · sustained winds · tropical depression
inundation
Overwhelming surge of water
highwater · overflow · backwater · floodwaters · water level · flood stage · battering · swamping · flood zone · flood damage
evacuation
Removal from danger
- warningAlert about danger
- preparednessState of being equipped
- shelterProtected place or structure
first responders · rescue · displacement · casualties · relief · aid · mandatory evacuation · evacuation zone · emergency management · evacuation route
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- aftermathResults following an event
damage · collapse · flattening · ruins · obliteration · debris · total loss · structural damage · property damage · infrastructure damage
sea level rise
Increasing ocean surface height
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- extreme weatherUnusual, dangerous atmospheric events
ocean warming · intensification · frequency · climate adaptation · resilience · climate modeling
- coastal sciencebeach erosion, sea level rise, coastal flooding, coastal ecosystems, estuaries
- geohazardslandslides, rockslide, mudslide, mudflow, subsidence
- tideshigh tide, low tide, ebb tide, tides, flood tide
- phenomenanorthern lights, eclipse, earthquake, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard