What is a meteotsunami? Meteorologists say one hit the Lake Michigan shoreline during this week's storms [VIDEO]

(WWJ) According to The Weather Channel , a meteotsunami slammed into the shore of Lake Michigan this week.

Meteorologists say this happened during severe weather on Tuesday, June 25, at the beachfront in Ludington and Holland, Michigan, where an air-pressure disturbance caused the water to quickly rise about two feet.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), meteotsunamis are large waves that scientists are just beginning to better understand. Unlike tsunamis triggered by seismic activity — and tend to be more far-ranging and destructive — meteotsunamis are driven by air-pressure disturbances often associated with fast-moving weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts. The storm generates a wave that moves towards the shore, and is amplified by a shallow continental shelf and inlet, bay, or other coastal feature.

Meteotsunamis have been observed to reach heights of 6 feet or more. They occur in many places around the world, including the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Coast, and the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.

Learn more about meteotsunamis here.

More on today's top stories: