Hurricane Storm Surge Maps and Animations

Event: Storm System Charley

Last Updated: August 14, 2025 03:00 AM

In the event of an approaching hurricane, the Coastal Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (CFDL) at North Carolina State University will generate storm surge projections based on updated hurricane track forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center. The data management group based at the Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences at the University of South Carolina will help to transform these projections into useful information products for the SC Emergency Management Division and other users.


Notes on the GIS layers: The layers presented display forecasts for probability of flooding, storm surge and areas of flooding. Labels which contain 'max' in them represent the maximum surge over a given time range. To see the legend for each layer click on the legend icon in the top left of the menu bar at the window top left.

Link to the GIS-enabled projections:
http://chrysler.asg.sc.edu/website/storm_Charley_081304_0900


Forecast One - August 12 4:00 PM

This animation shows a model forecast storm surge for the larger Caro-COOPS region(78.0-82.5 deg W, 31.0-34.5 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#10 hurricane forecast. This forecast runs from August 13 12:00 AM to August 14 6:00 AM. Storm surge units are in meters.

  • Storm Surge Outer Region - file format .avi, file size 20 MB

  • Forecast Two - August 13 9:00 AM

    This is a percent probability of flooding based on multiple storm surge forecasts using a range of potential hurricane tracks for the Charleston area and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#12 hurricane forecast.

  • Map
  • PDF file - download/print using Adobe Viewer

  • Forecast Three - August 13 1:00 PM

    This is a forecasted maximum storm surge map for the larger Caro-COOPS region(78.0-82.5 deg W, 31.0-34.5 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#16 hurricane forecast. Storm surge units are in meters(1 meter = 3.28 feet). The area within the central rectangles represents Charleston, SC.

  • Map
  • Forecast Four - August 13 2:00 PM

    This is a forecasted maximum storm surge map for the larger Caro-COOPS region(78.0-82.5 deg W, 31.0-34.5 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#17 hurricane forecast. Storm surge units are in meters(1 meter = 3.28 feet). Red hash marks represent areas of possible flooding. The area within the central rectangles represents Charleston, SC.

  • Map
  • Forecast Five

    August 13 9:00 PM

    This is a forecasted maximum storm surge map for the larger Caro-COOPS region(78.0-82.5 deg W, 31.0-34.5 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#18 hurricane forecast. Storm surge units are in meters(1 meter = 3.28 feet). Red hash marks represent areas of possible flooding. The area within the central rectangles represents Charleston, SC. The dashed red line represents the hurricane storm track used for the run.

  • Map
  • August 13 11:00 PM

    This is a forecasted maximum storm surge map for the larger Charleston region(79.7-80.1 deg W, 32.5-33.0 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#18 hurricane forecast. Storm surge units are in meters(1 meter = 3.28 feet).

  • Map
  • August 14 03:00 AM

    This is a forecasted flooding index map for the inner Charleston region(79.75-80.00 deg W, 32.70-32.90 deg N) and is based on input from the NWS's Advisory#18 hurricane forecast. All flooded areas are less than 3 feet except where there may be jetties or other barriers not currently incorporated into the model input which might prevent flooding. Flooding along Morris and Sullivans Island may be slightly higher at 3-5 feet.

  • Map