Storm surge can penetrate far inland depending on the storm’s strength, local topography, elevation, and presence of waterways. According to FEMA and other sources:
- Storm surge flooding can occur up to 10 miles inland with surge heights around 9-12 feet above normal sea level
- For very strong storms with surges over 18 feet, flooding can reach up to 30 miles inland, with water levels up to 10 feet above sea level
- In some cases, such as during Hurricane Ian in 2022, storm surge was pushed 15 miles inland along the coast and up to 24 miles inland along rivers and waterways, with depths up to 8 feet
- The inland penetration varies greatly with geography; flat coastal areas like parts of Florida may see surge extend 1 to 2 miles or more inland, while low-lying river basins can allow surge to travel tens of miles inland
- Historical events like Hurricane Ike in 2008 showed storm surge moving nearly 30 miles inland in some locations
In summary, storm surge can travel from a few miles to as far as 25-30 miles inland, especially along rivers and low-lying areas, with the extent heavily influenced by storm intensity and local landscape features
