Last Wednesday, September 28, just before Hurricane Yan arrive at Tampa Bay, in Florida, residents of the area saw how the water receded from the coast, leaving the bottom open and even the boats moored in the port got stuck in the silt. Many spectators came to the area to walk through what is usually covered by the sea. However, meteorologists and authorities warned that everything that goes away comes back and that what happened is not a prelude to something good.
And they should already know this, because this is not the first time something like this has happened in this part of the United States. Already in 2017, something similar happened with Hurricane Irma. The water dripped off the thing, but then it rushed out again with greater force. This is due to a phenomenon known as reverse storm surge. As the name suggests, this is the opposite of a storm surge, where sea levels rise causing major flooding.
The fact is that this water does not disappear, it is simply carried away by the winds to the sea and the time comes when it returns, perhaps with great force. Curious who came to take a selfie and walk on the seathey may not have time to run. So, as curious as it is, it’s best to watch the show from a safe place.
Why can a hurricane carry water inland?
To understand the phenomenon reverse storm surge we must proceed from the fact that North hemispherewind from hurricanes rotates counterclockwise.
Therefore, in areas opposite to the direction of rotation of the hurricane, the wind will carry the water. In the case of Tampa Bay, when a hurricane approaches from the south, this drainage phenomenon occurs. Instead, once the hurricane passes this area and heads north, the opposite effect occurs. The water that has left moves again and returns to its place, sometimes with big waves and sea level rise.
All this actually happens only in places where the sea level is not too high. For example, in the case of Hurricane Irma in 2017, the hurricane also approached the Caribbean Sea from the south. In fact, he was in category 5, with wind speeds up to 298 kilometers per hour. However, the sea did not recede until Tampa BayAlready with 4 categories, yes it turned out.
This is because island areas like the Caribbean have much higher sea levels. Therefore, the wind immerses the water, which then falls into place. The bottom is not exposed because it is too deep. However, when hurricanes approach the continental plate, sea levels are much lower along the coast, and this effect does take place.
If the sea recedes, run
In reality, the return of the sea to its original position can be calm and nothing happens. Or that it be stormy, with floods and big waves. Sometimes it’s hard to tell; but for this very reason it is better not to go into open country. And it’s not just about hurricanes.
The departure of the sea is also characteristic of other phenomena, such as tsunami. It doesn’t always happen, but the underwater shaking that causes these giant waves can initially cause the sea to recede. In these cases, the forcible return of the water to its place is something much more immediate. For this reason, people living in places where it is common know full well that it is time to flee the coast. Instead, tourists may be captivated by the spectacle and have no time to escape.
The moral of all this is that if you see the water suddenly recede from its place, having nothing to do with normal low tidePerhaps this is an omen of something bad. It is better not to stop and try to guess what will happen next.
Source: Hiper Textual
