National Storm Surge Risk Maps — How Far Inland the Ocean Can Reach

Storm surge, not wind, causes most hurricane deaths, and the risk extends well beyond the beachfront. These maps model the water pushed ashore under different hurricane categories and show the resulting inundation in one-foot increments, so a household can see whether its location is exposed at a category one or only at a category four. Coverage spans the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, Hawaii, Southern California and several territories and neighbouring nations. The fourth version, released in 2025, improved resolution along the Gulf and East Coasts. This is planning information rather than a live forecast — the value is in looking before a season starts, not during a warning.

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