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Abstract. We investigate here the effects of geometric properties (channel depth andcross-sectional convergence length), storm surge characteristics, friction,and river flow on the spatial and temporal variability of compound floodingalong an idealized, meso-tidal coastal-plain estuary. An analytical model isdeveloped that includes exponentially convergent geometry, tidal forcing,constant river flow, and a representation of storm surge as a combination oftwo sinusoidal waves. Nonlinear bed friction is treated using Chebyshevpolynomials and trigonometric functions, and a multi-segment approach isused to increase accuracy. Model results show that river discharge increasesthe damping of surge amplitudes in an estuary, while increasing channeldepth has the opposite effect. Sensitivity studies indicate that the impactof river flow on peak water level decreases as channel depth increases,while the influence of tide and surge increases in the landward portion ofan estuary. Moreover, model results show less surge damping in deeperconfigurations and even amplification in some cases, while increasedconvergence length scale increases damping of surge waves with periods of 12–72 h. For every modeled scenario, there is a point where river dischargeeffects on water level outweigh tide/surge effects. As a channel isdeepened, this cross-over point moves progressively upstream. Thus, channeldeepening may alter flood risk spatially along an estuary and reduce thelength of a river estuary, within which fluvial flooding is dominant.