At a Glance

A direct landfall can have more serious impacts compared to when a hurricane tracks just off the coast.When hurricanes track parallel to the coast, impacts can be more widespread.

When considering potential impacts from a hurricane, the angle of approach to the coast is one important factor.

Among other factors such as the storm's intensity, forward speed, size and shape of the coast, how the tropical cyclone tracks near a coast can make a big difference in the severity of storm surge, coastal flooding, heavy rain and damaging winds. It will also determine how far-reaching these impacts will be.

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Here are the key differences an angle of approach can make:

1. Direct Landfall

When a hurricane makes landfall, it means that the center of the circulation crosses over land, which leads to different consequences than if the system only approaches the coast.

A direct landfall brings the potential for greater storm surge in that location, particularly to the immediate right of the storm's path. Storm surge is typically the deadliest threat from a hurricane.

Storm surge, according to the , is "an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides. The rise in water can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas, particularly when storm surge coincides with normal high tide."

Storm surge is created when strong winds from the storm push water toward the shore.

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In this case, the hurricane's most intense winds, found in the eyewall, hammer at least a part of the coast, and to some extent inland.

2. Track Parallel To The Coast

Conversely, when a hurricane tracks parallel to the coastline, the severity of impacts usually lessens. However, the area that experiences the effects of the storm increases, as does the difficulty of the forecast.

The storm surge produced at a given location likely will be reduced. However, the closer the center of the tropical cyclone comes to the coast, the worse the conditions will be. It will also change where the worst storm surge is, depending on the shape of the coastline.

In addition, as the storm continues to track parallel to the coastwithout making landfall, hurricaneconditions – including strong winds and heavy rains – may impact many more coastal residents.

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Furthermore, small deviations in the forecast track of a paralleling but offshore hurricane can change coastal impacts dramatically.

A mere 5 to 10 miles' difference in the track could mean the difference between a swipe of damaging winds from the eyewall, or borderline tropical-storm-force winds. Or it could mean the difference between, say, over a foot of rain or just an inch or two.

Just because a hurricane does not make landfall in a particular area does not mean it isn't dangerous.

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