This 2022 video captures the devastating 15 foot storm surge at Ft. Myers Beach in Florida during Hurricane Ian.

Even as some parts of Florida’s western coast were enduring a surge of seawater on Wednesday night, Hurricane Milton’s heavy winds were pushing water out of Tampa Bay. A flood gauge near Tampa showed the water levels fluctuating as Milton approached and then plummeting while the storm’s eye passed to the south — dropping three feet below the level expected on a normal day.

The shape and position of Tampa Bay makes it one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. for storm surge. If the dirty side of a strong hurricane hits the bay entrance just right, it would lead to catastrophic surge flooding.