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The Science Behind Storm Surges

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Sep 12, 2008 1:23 pm US/Eastern

The Science Behind Storm Surges

CBS News Interactive: 2008 Storm Tracker

BOSTON (WBZ) ― All eyes are on Hurricane Ike making landfall late Friday in Texas.

While Ike is only a Category 2 hurricane, it may produce Category 4 storm surge.

Storm surge is a wall of water produced by the very low pressure within a hurricane. That wall of water is then pushed toward the coastline by the land falling hurricane.

The water has no place to go except onto the beaches, flooding them.

If the storm surge is great enough, flooding will occur inland as well.

Normally, a Category 2 hurricane will produce 6 to 8 foot storm surge, but because of the size of Ike, a Category 4 storm surge –15 to 20 feet -- is feared.

Hurricane Ike Resources:

 Storm Surge Explained
 2008 Storm Tracker
 2008 Hurricane Names
 WBZ's Hurricane Ike Coverage
 Your Weekend Weather Forecast

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