Hurricane Fiona (2022)

Strong winds over water can cause the water level to rise. This storm surge can flood land, change the shape of beaches, and cause damage to roads and buildings. In this study, we use a computer model to calculate the storm surge during Hurricane Fiona, one of the most intense storms ever to hit eastern Canada. We use the model for different conditions, and determine that part of the storm surge was generated over the ocean, while another part was generated over the gulf. These two parts of the storm surge did not occur at exactly the same time, and were not coincident with high tide. If all three of these components of the total water level peak simultaneously in a future storm, coastal areas could experience even more damage.