Why Tampa Bay was spared from Hurricane Milton's massive storm surge

During reverse storm surge, particularly larger storms, the opposite happens, AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said after Hurricane Ian. “It can pull the water out because the wind comes from the land to the sea and pushes the water,” he said. “The power of the wind is incredible.”

The result, according to Pastelok, is barren terrain in some places, particularly along the coast.

The phenomenon can occur with any hurricane, whether it makes landfall along the U.S. East Coast or in the Gulf, according to the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay area office.

Why does a reverse storm surge occur?

Storm surges can occur near and to the right of where a storm makes landfall, but negative water levels can occur to the left of where a storm makes landfall, weather service meteorologist Ernie Jillson said. Tampa Bay was to the left of where Ian made landfall because the wind was blowing from the northeast, he said.

And it appears to have happened again at Milton on Wednesday.

It depends on the shape of the waterway and bays are more vulnerable because they are like a bowl of water,” Jillson told USA TODAY. “They are protected by land on all but one side, which is why they are so vulnerable to depletion.”