Hurricanes can be deadly, but it's typically not the wind from these powerful storms that causes the highest number of fatalities. Rather, storm surges caused by hurricanes are "often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane," according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), which posted warnings about storm surges expected from Hurricane Matthew this week.
But what exactly are storm surges, and why are they so deadly?
Storm surges occur when a storm's winds drive the water's surface to higher-than-normal levels. This increase in the water's height can lead to coastal flooding, which has already happened along parts of the Florida coast, the NHC reported. [Hurricane Matthew Photos: See How the Monster Storm
But what exactly are storm surges, and why are they so deadly?
Storm surges occur when a storm's winds drive the water's surface to higher-than-normal levels. This increase in the water's height can lead to coastal flooding, which has already happened along parts of the Florida coast, the NHC reported. [Hurricane Matthew Photos: See How the Monster Storm