A preliminary investigation using a Nova Scotia storm surge prediction model

A test of a storm surge model using the shallow water equations is presented. The model is designed to be run using CMC (Canadian Meteorological Centre) prognostic data. The model incorporates a quadratic bottom friction term and is capable of including advective, topographic and tidal effects. It can simulate a moving land‐sea boundary approximately. The model is applied to the east coast of Nova Scotia for the “Ground Hog Day” storm of February 1976. Meteorological forcing is calculated using subjectively analysed sea‐level pressures. Away from open boundaries, the agreement with observed surge residuals is generally good. However, the results are less satisfactory near the boundaries. CMC meteorological data are found to underestimate the surface wind stress during this period.