An illustration of a beach complex showing an "overwash regime" - a type of storm impact on a beach complex and dune system

Image 6. An illustration of a beach complex showing an "overwash regime." Tides and storm surge push water up to the dune crest. Storm-induced waves then break over the top of the dune, transporting sand over the dune crest and depositing it behind the dune. The beach becomes greatly altered/degraded. This poses an elevated threat to buildings and roadways immediately behind the dune due to sand transported inland over the dune. This process, known as overwash, causes a significant change in the landscape.