How much of storm surge is created by wind and how much is created by low pressure?

Answer 1

It's all caused by the wind and compounded by high tide if the storm surge coincides with high tide.

Answer 2

A storm surge is caused by the extremely low barometric pressure in a hurricane.The water actually mounds up. A miniature storm surge that you can observe at home or classroom is if you have an old- fashion '''water glass" barometer. Watch what happens when the barometric pressure is low. the water rises Watch it in a hurricane. the water overflows onto the floor . Generally, the lower the pressure, the higher the storm surge. Think of storn surge as higher water level .The wind and wind driven waves combine with the storm surge to cause the storm's damage. It was the high water from from a storm surge that flooded New Orleans. I hope this helps . With all the talk about "storm surge" in the news, I wish the news people would explain the term a bit better.

Answer 3

Dorcas gave you a good answer. The others who think it is wind have no idea what they are talking about. Tides may give you 2 to 4 ft in most places, wind can add another foot or two, but the real hurricane storm surge is caused by the low barometric pressure. In Louisiana and Mississippi they had as high as a 30 ft storm surge this last year. I saw a wooden picnick table 25 feet up in a tree, deposited there by the high water, 15 miles inland (in Mississippi and near the Mississippi river). The storm surge caused the Mississippi river to run up stream, (North) because there was so much of the Gulf of Mexico water lifted up by the low pressure, the river was down hill from the surge. It was awsome.

Answer 4

None of it is created by low presure.

How could low pressure create a storm surge?

Answer 5

alot...