Water in Tampa Bay was returning to normal levels Thursday. The area experienced 'reverse storm surge' that drove water away from the shoreline.

Reverse storm surge happens when the wind from the storm pushes the excess water away from shore instead of pushing it onto the coast and it happened during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut told USA TODAY that if Milton makes landfall to the south of Tampa Bay, it could happen again.

The event, called a reverse storm surge, also occurred during Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. As heavy winds from Milton whip from land into the Atlantic Ocean, water levels are dropping significantly, exposing a bare sandy shoreline where water usually sits.