"A massive surge of water crashed against the shore after the storm broke."
In plain English: A surge is a sudden and powerful increase of something, like electricity flowing through wires or people rushing into a place all at once.
"A sudden surge of tourists flooded the popular beach this weekend."
Usage: Use this word to describe any rapid and temporary spike in quantity, intensity, or activity, such as a surge of tourists during holidays. It implies that the high level will eventually subside rather than remaining constant.
The word "surge" comes from Latin surgō, which originally meant to rise or spring up. It traveled into English via French and Middle English while retaining its core sense of moving upward or forward with force.