Storm tide - Definition and Overview

A storm tide is a tide with a high flood period caused by a storm. Storm tides can be a severe danger to the coast and the people living along the coast. The water level can rise to more than 5 m (17 ft) above the normal tide. Compare to storm surge.

For the protection from storm tides, long and high dike systems have been built, especially in the Netherlands, northern Germany and Denmark. Storm tides are a regular occurrence in these areas; usually, there are several storm tides each Winter. Most of them do not cause significant damage.

Big storm tides were in

• 1362 (Groote Manndränke – big drowner of men), which created a great part of the wadden sea and caused the end of the city of Rungholt.
• 1634 when the Island of Strand broke into parts (Nordstrand and Pellworm) in Nordfriesland.
• 1953 most severe in the Netherlands, leading to the North Sea Reclamation Works.
• 1962 causing more than 270 victims in Hamburg.