It can be extremely devastating, and is in fact a major cause of damage from hurricanes. The storm surge itself is caused by the wind and pressure 'pushing' the water into the continental shelf and onto the coastline. As the Environment Canada weather warning indicates, a storm surge is caused by a combination of factors. The intensity and size of the surge depends on the strength of the winds. Most storm surges occur during hurricanes and usually the stronger the hurricane, the higher the storm surge.
Low pressure acts like a vacuum, creating higher waves and raising the sea level.
The slope of the sea bottom can also magnify a storm surge under certain conditions. In tropical areas, a hurricane storm surge can sometimes cause nine of every 10 fatalities. The danger doesn't just come from wind and water. The surge smashes everything in its path, boats, trees, utility poles and buildings. Two views of a storm surge.