Hurricanes and the moon

[Greg]

What effect, if any does the moon have on hurricanes? If the moon can lift the ocean several feet, wouldn't it have an effect on a huge mass, such as a hurricane? Do any of the models factor it in?

[x-y-no]

That's an interesting question ...

I'm sure none of the models factor any lunar effect in, but I suppose it's not out of the realm of possibility that some effect exists.

Probably pretty small, though.

[Greg]

Googled and found this link. Kind of fluffy, but I think there is some good info.
http://www.predictweather.com/articles.asp?ID=16

[ladygatorslayer]

I know that there is a new moon this week and that there will be 2 high tides over the next couple of days. My husband works at a Marina in Hudson and his boss was talking about it earlier today.

The moon has an effect on the tides and the storm surge. That's all I know.

[wnknisely]

Twice a lunar cycle, the size of the tides are effected by where the moon is in relation to the Sun.

We get unusually high tides when the moon is either full or new because the tides caused by the moon and the tides caused by the sun are combined. That means unusually high tides and deeper low tides. These are called spring tides.

When the moon is in a quarter phase we get less pronounced tides - lower high tides and higher low tides than normal. These are called neap tides.

If the moon is new this week, and the storm surge were to come ashore at the same time as the high tide, you'd have additional flooding than you would otherwise expect.