Florida Gulf Coast is under storm surge warning. Here’s how much it could rise

Hurricane Helene is expected to ram into Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 storm, bringing tons of heavy wind and rain into the Sunshine State.

So far, Helene has been approaching Florida’s Gulf Coast while it continues to strengthen, prompting coastal communities to brace for impact.

As a result, a storm surge warning has been put into effect for most of the state’s Gulf Coast, according to the NOAA.

WHAT IS STORM SURGE?

The NOAA defines storm surge as “the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide.”

This surge is typically sparked by storm winds pushing water onshore, though how high the surge reaches depends on factors like the storm’s path, intensity, size, and speed.

Meanwhile, storm tide is the combination of a given storm surge and the regular astronomical tide.

HOW MUCH STORM SURGE IS PREDICTED?

As of the NHC’s most recent predictions on Wednesday night, the Big Bend area of Florida’s Gulf Coast — where Helene is expected to touch down in the state — could see as much as 20 feet of storm surge.

Closer to Central Florida, Tampa Bay is expected to receive around 5-8 feet of storm surge as Helene passes by.

Even down in the Florida Keys or up along Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, storm surge could still reach between 1-3 feet thanks to Helene’s rampage.

Many areas along the Gulf Coast have already been designated as vulnerable “evacuation zones” by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

To see whether your location is in an evacuation zone, click here.