Low pressure at sea 'lifts' tides to a level higher that normal and high winds then blow the water in land.
Storm surges are very rare in the UK but people across the east coast of the UK are preparing for the possibility of flooding.
Ricky explains in more detail how a surge is caused and what people are doing to protect themselves.
As parts of the country are battered by high winds and rain, storm surges on the coast are becoming a problem.