CEDAR KEY, Fla. — Hurricane Helene broke records for storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast, an area that is especially vulnerable to storm-driven flooding in part because of its shallow water. Storm surge — when fierce winds push a mass of water ...

The winds might have died down as Hurricane Helene dwindles, but dangerous storm surge and flooding rivers in Florida are still a concern.

In Clearwater, one of the hardest-hit regions, water levels surged to a record 8.6 feet, eclipsing the previous high of 6.8 feet. Similarly, in East Bay, levels peaked at 7.3 feet, surpassing the old record of 6.7 feet.