Meteotsunami
© NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS
According to the National Weather Service, a "meteotsunami" may have occurred early this morning in Naples as the powerful, tornado warned storm that brought widespread damage to the area moved onshore.

Water levels rose sharply in the Naples area as the severe thunderstorm moved in, packing wind gusts over 80 miles per hour.

A meteotsunami, according to the NWS is caused by air pressure disturbances often associated with fast moving weather systems, such as squall lines.

These disturbances can generate waves in the ocean that travel at the same speed as the overhead weather system.

Such a squall line moved through Southwest Florida this morning. Its arrival at high tide led to widespread coastal flooding up and down the coastline as the strong thunderstorm winds helped drive the water onshore.

However what happened in Naples appears to be more than standard coastal flooding during a high wind event. As the water level readings show below, the water levels rose sharply at the moment the storms moved inland, reaching a height of over 7 feet, nearly 6 feet higher than a normal high tide. From there, continued spikes and falls were observed--signs of continued wave action in response to the initial wave's passage.

According to NWS, while uncommon, meteotsunamis are well documented and occur a few times a year in Florida.