Tidal Gauge Information: Storm Surge

Many factors contribute to the intensity of the storm surge at a particular location. High tide, the slope of the land, and bathymetry (topography of the ocean floor) all play a role, but the wind primarily causes storm surge. The wind direction has a significant impact on storm surge. The water is pushed in the direction the winds are blowing, so if strong winds blowing towards the coast, this will help push water towards the shore. This piling up contributes to most of the coastal flooding.

Below are some of the observed storm surge heights from tidal gauges along the North Carolina coastlines:

• Duck, NC: 5.62 ft.
• Beaufort, NC:7.28 ft
• Wrightsville Beach, NC: 8.43 ft