Hurricane Hazards
Surge, inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes.
Storm Surge: The Deadliest Threat
Storm surge — the wall of seawater a hurricane pushes ashore — has historically caused about half of U.S. hurricane deaths, more than any other hazard. And the storm's category won't tell you how bad yours will be. Here's why, and what to do about it.
intermediateRainfall and Inland Flooding: The Hazard That Reaches Farthest 🔒
Wind and surge get the headlines, but freshwater flooding from rain is now the leading killer in U.S. tropical systems — and it strikes far inland, long after the wind is gone. Here's why, and how little water it takes to be deadly.
beginnerRip Currents: A Hurricane Hazard Hundreds of Miles Away 🔒
A hurricane doesn't have to make landfall — or even come close — to kill you at the beach. Distant storms drive rip currents that drown about 100 people a year in the U.S. Here's what a rip current is and exactly how to survive one.
beginnerTornadoes from Tropical Systems 🔒
Landfalling hurricanes routinely spawn tornadoes — usually weak but dangerous, because they hit in the rainbands far from the center, with little warning, often at night and after landfall. Here's where they form and how to stay safe.
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