Is storm surge caused by the wind or the low pressure?

Answer 1

Storms are created when a center of low pressure develops, with a system of high pressure surrounding it. This combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds, such as the cumulonimbus. Small, localized areas of low pressure can form from hot air rising off hot ground, resulting in smaller disturbances such as dust devils and whirlwinds.

Answer 2

It's caused by both. The wind carries the storm surge, while the low pressure is what creates it. That is how a storm surge is able to come before the storm is evident sometimes. The low pressure causes the water to rise from sea level, carried by emence winds that pull it upward like a vacuum cleaner would if you placed it in the water. Oh, and be careful this year all you shore goers, it's shaping up to be a dangerous hurricane season again, all thanks to our friend La Nina.

Answer 3

Both.

Think of it this way, if you blow through a straw into a small dish of water, the pressure from of your breath displaces enough water to make an indentation in the water. This indentation indicates a movement of water. A side effect of blowing, is “wind” friction generating waves on the water.

Taken as one at a time, if you had just high pressure with no wind the water at any given place would simply be deeper/ higher then normal. Conversely, if you had wind with no pressure you would have more waves in the same depth of water.

The combined result is more water in a given area with more devastating wave action. Thus making Storm Surge so damaging.

Answer 4

wind