How does storm surge work? Here's how Milton could bring reverse storm surge to Tampa Bay

Storm surge is one of the deadliest components of large, devastating hurricanes like Hurricane Milton. But reverse storm surge is a much less common, strange phenomena that sometimes happens with major storms.

Depending on where and how Hurricane Milton hits Florida’s gulf coast on Wednesday night, Tampa Bay could be flooded with storm surge, or it could be bone-dry for a period of time . Forecasters are saying that if Milton makes landfall just south of Tampa, Tampa Bay will likely see a reverse storm surge.

Here’s what reverse storm surge is and the most chaotic and calm places in a major hurricane like Milton.

How does storm surge work? What is reverse storm surge?

If you don't know, storm surge is a deadly and abnormal rise in water levels and it happens in coastal regions during major storms. Storm surge happens because the strong winds from hurricanes push excess water onto the shore.

"Storm surge is the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide," NOAA's website says. "The surge is caused primarily by a storm’s winds pushing water onshore."

Reverse storm surge happens when the wind from the storm pushes the excess water away from shore instead of pushing it onto the coast and it happened during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut told USA TODAY that if Milton makes landfall to the south of Tampa Bay, it could happen again.

Map of expected storm surge for Hurricane Milton

The latest forecast as Milton barrels toward Florida includes potential storm surge flooding of 9 to 13 feet above ground in some areas. Areas north and south of the hurricane landfall, and even along the east coast of the state as the hurricane passes over, are expected to see surge of 3 to 5 feet.

How far inland will storm surge go?

Storm surge will batter beaches and buildings, marinas and boardwalks along the coast, undoubtedly. But National Weather Service also warns that combinations of the surge and heavy rain may inundate rivers, tributaries and other low-lying areas. Canals and streams may turn into rivers and mudslides may be trigger in valleys. Flood control systems and barriers may be stressed by the storm surge.

Streets and parking lots might become raging rivers with underpasses submerged. Do not drive into floodwaters.

Which is worse: the right or left side of a hurricane?

Tropical cyclones are typically pretty symmetrical, meaning heavy winds and rains are dispersed pretty evenly throughout the system.

But hurricanes move more and have a less symmetrical make-up, meaning there’s a side of the storm that’s more intense and dangerous than the other, with stronger winds. This is often called the “dirty side” of a hurricane and is on the right side, in Milton's case the east side, of a hurricane.

“The ‘right side’ is in reference to the storm’s direction of movement in the Northern Hemisphere. If a hurricane is moving to the west, the right side would be to the north of the storm, if it is heading north, then the right side would be to the east of the storm,” NOAA’s website says.

“In the Southern Hemisphere, this is reversed since a tropical cyclone’s winds spiral around its center clockwise there as opposed to counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.”

Why are winds stronger on the dirty side of a hurricane?

The right side of a hurricane is stronger and more dangerous because that’s where the winds that are “steering” the storm are coming from.

“The hurricane's right side (relative to the direction it is traveling) is the most dangerous part of the storm because of the additive effect of the hurricane wind speed and speed of the larger atmospheric flow (the steering winds),” According to NSF Unidata, a University Corporation for Atmospheric Research program.

“The increased winds on the right side increase the storm surge described in the Hazards section of this module. Tornadoes are also more common here.”

Where is the calmest part of a hurricane?

If you don’t know, the center or “eye” of a storm is the calmest part. Ironically, the calmest part of the storm is surrounded by the most chaotic, which is the eyewall.

“The hurricane's center is a relatively calm, generally clear area of sinking air and light winds that usually do not exceed 15 mph (24 km/h) and is typically 20-40 miles (32-64 km) across,” NOAA’s website says.

“The eyewall consists of a ring of tall thunderstorms that produce heavy rains and usually the strongest winds. Changes in the structure of the eye and eyewall can cause changes in the wind speed, which is an indicator of the storm's intensity. The eye can grow or shrink in size, and double (concentric) eyewalls can form.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: How does storm surge work? Here's how Milton could bring reverse storm surge to Tampa Bay