Also, near the eye of the hurricane, the wind is going in all directions. This is much more dangerous than the wind of a winter storm that usually blows only in one direction. These waves and high winds are a hazard for shipping and boating. Storm surge is the fast rise in sea level that occurs as a big storm like a hurricane approaches the coastline. The sea level near the coast piles up because of the strong winds that are pushing the water towards the coast and also because of the storm s low pressure that creates a suction on the ocean, causing it to rise up.
Storm surge does most damage along beaches and on offshore islands.
The strong winds of hurricanes and tropical storms can cause significant damage. Winds can destroy houses, buildings, and other structures. In major hurricanes, flying debris can be very dangerous. Hurricanes can produce very heavy rainfall. Sometimes days after a hurricane passes there is extremely heavy rain.