News in Brief Earth

Extreme storm surges may occur more often

Global temperature increases could boost hurricane-caused flooding

By Erin Wayman

- More than 2 years ago

As the climate warms, deadly flooding caused by storm surges will occur more frequently, scientists predict.

Extreme storm surges, like the one that hit the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina, will become more common as global temperatures rise, a new study finds. LCDR Mark Moran/AOC/NMAO/NOAA Corps

A storm surge is the rise in water above normal tide level that occurs when hurricanes push water toward a coast.