Improving Hurricane Storm Surge Forecasts with Digital Elevation Models

news image
Special Stories
18 Sep 2018 8:50 AM

[Beachfront homes in the aftermath of Post-tropical Cyclone Sandy in 2012.]

From NOAA NCEI

Before and after a storm, NOAA NCEI scientists work hard at better preparing coastal communities for future tropical cyclones and hurricanes. NCEI supports hurricane storm surge and flood modeling through the development of coastal digital elevation models (DEMs). A DEM is a representation of Earth’s solid surface that depicts land heights and water depths to visualize relief in coastal zones. NCEI DEMs integrate bathymetry (details about the ocean floor) and topography in the coastal zones of the United States and in select international locations.

The shape and configuration of the coastline and the offshore, underwater slope exert controls on the rise of sea level associated with a landfalling hurricane. This storm surge enables waves to extend farther inland relative to normal conditions, flooding low-lying coastal areas and altering the physical landscape. Having access to the most up-to-date elevation data is critical for modeling and mapping experts to best determine the magnitude, timing, and extent of potential inundation.

[This image represents the potential storm surge inundation extents for eastern North Carolina (Morehead City/Beaufort and vicinity). Courtesy of NOAA National Hurricane Center.]

In 2014, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, a new national scale DEM development framework was created at NCEI to more efficiently create standardized, seamless data products. It was designed to facilitate rapid, targeted updates to existing DEMs with the most recent elevation data, ensuring that modelers and emergency managers have access to the most current, accurate data. Newly developed DEMs for North Carolina help prepare for future storms.

The DEM team at NCEI draws on its vast archive of data about the ocean depth (known as bathymetry data) collected for navigation and ocean resource management, as well as data from other federal agencies—like the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NASA—academia, and nonprofit organizations.

[Integrated topographic-bathymetric digital elevation model of eastern North Carolina (Morehead City/Beaufort and vicinity). Courtesy of NOAA NCEI.]

Other coastal topography and ocean bathymetry data include the NOAA NCEI Bathymetry Viewer and NOAA Office for Coastal Management Digital Coast Data Access Viewer.

Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels

All Weather News
More
Severe Weather Outbreak Expected Through the Weekend

Severe Weather Outbreak Expected Through the Weekend

KEY MESSAGES:Damaging tornadoes hit at least

16 Mar 2025 4:25 AM
Blizzard Conditions For Portions of the MIdwest

Blizzard Conditions For Portions of the MIdwest

An intense low pressure system has been movin

15 Mar 2025 9:30 AM
Strong Winds Ignite Wildfire Concerns

Strong Winds Ignite Wildfire Concerns

Numerous wildfires erupted in the Great Plain

15 Mar 2025 8:40 AM
Did You See the Total Lunar Eclipse?

Did You See the Total Lunar Eclipse?

Hopefully you could sneak outside in the wee

14 Mar 2025 8:30 AM
Another Round of Rain & Snow for California on Friday

Another Round of Rain & Snow for California on Friday

Thursday, it was another active day across Ca

14 Mar 2025 8:00 AM
More Snow on the Way for Ski Country

More Snow on the Way for Ski Country

FOUR CORNERS - The same system that has been

14 Mar 2025 3:00 AM
Storms Head East Overnight and Into South Thursday

Storms Head East Overnight and Into South Thursday

ARKLATEX - The Storm Prediction Center has ma

13 Mar 2025 2:10 AM