MET OFFICE News
Release issued by The Government News Network on 9 November 2007
Accurate and
consistent forecasts from the Met Office helped the Environment
Agency and emergency services take decisive action, after
England's east coast experience one of the highest storm
surges and tides for several decades.
Meanwhile, studies of climate change at the Met Office Hadley
Centre suggest that in the future the height of coastal floods is
likely to increase, potentially causing more damage.
The East Anglian coast borne the brunt of the flooding, with some
rivers and the broads also effected. In Lowestoft, Suffolk, the
surged peaked at 2.1 metres between 3 and 4am, 0.7 metres above
the alert level for the town. In Sheerness, Kent, the surge peaked
at 2.4 metres between 7 and 8am.
The storm surge was one of the highest since the 1953 east coast
floods, which claimed hundreds of lives. It was fortunate that the
recent surge did not coincide with high tide times.
The Table shows a comparison of Surge recorded in 1953, 1983 and
2007 along with the maximum recorded height of tide for each of
the above ports. The column on the far right shows the highest
recorded surge that the Met Office has on record.
Port 1953 1953 1983 1983 2007 2007 Highest
Max Highest Max Highest Max Highest recorded
Surge Water Surge Water Surge Water Surge
OD(N) OD(N) OD(N)
Immingham 1.98m 4.51m 1.53m 4.64m 1.65m 3.99m 2.43m
(1989)
Lowestoft 2.74m 3.35m 1.84m 2.82m 2.13m 2.63m 2.74m
(1953)
Sheerness 2.74m 4.69m 2.27m 3.90m 2.39m 3.46m 3.50m
(1921)
*OD (N) is defined as the Mean Sea Level at Newlyn in Cornwall
Information on how North Sea storm surges occur can be found at:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/education/secondary/students/flood.html#surges
More on Storm Tides Forecasting Service including the annual reports:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/publicsector/emarc/stfs.html
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Met Office is the UK's National Weather Service,
providing 24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather,
climate and environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings
for the protection of life and property.