Application and Validation of a Coupled Storm Surge plus Waves Modeling System at the National Hurricane Center

A two-way coupled storm surge plus ocean waves modeling system has been implemented at the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The Sea Lake and Overland Surge from Hurricanes (SLOSH) storm surge prediction model, developed at the National Weather Services Model Development Laboratory, and the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) third-generation wave model, developed at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, originally coupled by researchers at the University of Florida for the Gulf of Mexico and New England, was modified and configured at NHC for application in other geographical areas.

This coupled SLOSH+SWAN (SWOSH) modeling system will be used to provide guidance during tropical cyclone events and for evacuation planning in areas of steep bathymetry where waves make a significant contribution to the total water levels along coastlines.

Results from the SWOSH coupled modeling system and comparisons against ocean measurements will be presented.