The meteorological tide (storm tide) is the difference between observed and astronomically predicted sea level. A deep low can raise the sea 30–50 cm by the inverse barometric effect alone (1 hPa ≈ 1 cm); sustained onshore wind amplifies the effect.
When coinciding with astronomical spring tides, coastal flood risks multiply. On the Cantabrian coast, meteorological tides of 40–60 cm are frequent in winter. Not to be confused with storm surge, the extreme effect of a tropical cyclone.