A hydrodynamics-based surge scale for hurricanes

Record hurricane surges over the last several years have demonstrated the need for an improved surge hazard warning scale for hurricanes. Here, a simple hydrodynamics-based surge scale for hurricane surge hazard is presented. This surge scale incorporates readily available meteorological information along with regional-scale bathymetry into a single measure of expected surge levels at the coast. We further outline an approach for estimating expected flood inundation and damages based on the alongshore extent of high surges during hurricanes. Comparisons between this new surge scale and historical hurricane observations show a measurable improvement over existing surge indices, including the Saffir–Simpson scale. It is anticipated that the proposed surge scale will improve public awareness of surge hazard and assist governments in communicating critical decisions regarding evacuation and emergency response.