Storm surge is primarily caused by strong winds that push water onto the shore. Those sustained wind speeds, which may exceed 150 miles per hour, will push ocean water onto land, significantly elevating the normal sea level. Current forecasts indicate that these winds could drive over 12 feet of water ashore in the coming days.

As Hurricane Milton intensified on its path toward Florida's Gulf Coast, the strength of the system increased the severity of the storm surge forecast.

You can see the possible catastrophic impact that the storm surge from Hurricane Milton could have on Florida this week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a “Sea Level Rise Viewer” that allows you to choose a storm surge height and see how that would affect the entire country.