Storm Surges – Geography
Short term changes in sea level caused by low air pressure. A fall of 1 millibar leads
to a 1cm rise in sea level.
The worst storm surge in the North Sea that is recorded happened in January 1953,
taking the lives of 2500 people in the bordering countries with 325 of the deaths
happening in the UK. In December 2013, 60 years later, another terrible storm
surge happened in the same location, however, only 15 deaths occurred the second
time.
In 2013 (Cyclone Xavier):
There was extremely low air pressure – 962 millibars
Winds over 140mph were recorded in the Scottish Highlands
Gale-force winds from the north pushed the waves onto the coasts
Storm surge of 5.8m recorded at Immingham in Lincolnshire
There was also high tide in many locations making the flooding worse
Significant coastal flooding in Boston, Ryhl, Hull, Skegness, and Whitby
The Scottish rail network was shut down
100,000 homes lost power
2500 coastal homes and business were flooded in the UK
At Hemsby in Norfolk, severe erosion resulted in several buildings falling into
the sea
In 2013 the economic and social impacts were lower than in 1953, this is because
there was better forecasting with more technologically advanced systems bringing
weather warnings quicker which allowed for evacuations to happen. There were also
improved coastal flood defences along the east coast that limited the scale of the
damage.
In 1953:
30,000 people were evacuated
1,000km2 of land was flooded
307 people in England and 19 in Scotland lost their lives with the death toll
being worst on Canvey Island in the Thames estuary
Over 1,800 deaths occurred in the Netherlands due to their low-lying land
160,000 acres of land were left submerged under seawater and valuable
farmland was ruined
50,000 properties were damaged
Tens of thousands of livestock were killed
Short term changes in sea level caused by low air pressure. A fall of 1 millibar leads
to a 1cm rise in sea level.
The worst storm surge in the North Sea that is recorded happened in January 1953,
taking the lives of 2500 people in the bordering countries with 325 of the deaths
happening in the UK. In December 2013, 60 years later, another terrible storm
surge happened in the same location, however, only 15 deaths occurred the second
time.
In 2013 (Cyclone Xavier):
There was extremely low air pressure – 962 millibars
Winds over 140mph were recorded in the Scottish Highlands
Gale-force winds from the north pushed the waves onto the coasts
Storm surge of 5.8m recorded at Immingham in Lincolnshire
There was also high tide in many locations making the flooding worse
Significant coastal flooding in Boston, Ryhl, Hull, Skegness, and Whitby
The Scottish rail network was shut down
100,000 homes lost power
2500 coastal homes and business were flooded in the UK
At Hemsby in Norfolk, severe erosion resulted in several buildings falling into
the sea
In 2013 the economic and social impacts were lower than in 1953, this is because
there was better forecasting with more technologically advanced systems bringing
weather warnings quicker which allowed for evacuations to happen. There were also
improved coastal flood defences along the east coast that limited the scale of the
damage.
In 1953:
30,000 people were evacuated
1,000km2 of land was flooded
307 people in England and 19 in Scotland lost their lives with the death toll
being worst on Canvey Island in the Thames estuary
Over 1,800 deaths occurred in the Netherlands due to their low-lying land
160,000 acres of land were left submerged under seawater and valuable
farmland was ruined
50,000 properties were damaged
Tens of thousands of livestock were killed
