HOUSTON — One of the biggest threats with tropical weather is storm surge and as of Saturday afternoon, there was a Storm Surge Warning, upgraded from a watch, for part of the Texas Gulf Coast because of Tropical Storm Beryl. There are also hurricane and tropical storm watches in effect.
The storm, expected to regain hurricane strength in the Gulf of Mexico, is heading for the Texas coast. The Storm Surge Warning is in effect from San Luis Pass to High Island, including Galveston Bay. The warning was issued because of the potential for up to five feet of surge in some areas. Below is a map showing the area under the Storm Surge Warning.
What is storm surge?
According to the National Hurricane Center, storm surge is “an abnormal water level rise generated by a storm over and above the predicted astronomical tide.” You can read more about the causes on the NHC website.
When you factor in normal high tide, that brings even more water onto shore.
What can storm surge do at different levels?
One to three feet can knock you off your feet and stall your car. When water gets above three feet, it can float that stalled car away! If storm surge is six feet, you'll need to seek higher ground and a 12-foot surge can cover an entire first floor. Fifteen feet will cover a typical one-story home.
Meteorologist Chita Craft explains storm surge here.