UK Storm Floods Update

by in UK

The storm and tidal surge has affected hundreds of locations through Wales, Scotland and England. The storm seems to be passing, but the threat of flooding remains. The UK’s Environment Agency said:

“For many locations this flood event will be repeated on at least the next tide and maybe the one after that”.

Below is a summary of some of the areas affected, as of 06:00, Friday 6 December.

North Wales

  • 100s of people rescued by lifeboats in Rhyl, Wales, after being trapped in their homes by the biggest tidal surge in 30 years
  • An evacuation centre has been set up nearby leisure centre, with some 400 people reported as currently staying there
  • Llanddulas saw tide levels over 7.5 metres
  • In Deganwy, Conwy and Llanfairfechan flood defences were been topped, resulting in some flooding

North West England

Parts of North West England suffered from strong winds, huge waves and some flooding. The worst affected areas was New Brighton on Merseyside and also Hoylake and West Kirby.

North East England

Newcastle There were reports of the Quayside in Newcastle city cdentre being flooded during the evening of Thursday 5 December.

Yorkshire

  • Victoria Dock, east Hull, flooded. Residents evacuated their homes
  • The Hull tidal barrier believed to have held back a surge of two metres of tidal water
  • At 20:00 the tidal surge was so high, it was a few feet from breaching the barrier
  • The morning tide in Hull (between 06:00 and 09:00) may well bring further floods

Lincolnshire

  • The areas area Boston saw flooding after defences were topped and the River haven burst its banks
  • The morning tide of 6 December will likely bring further flooding

East of England

UK Power Networks said it was aware of power cuts in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk

Norfolk

  • Water was reported as at waist-height in parts of Blakeney. Wells was also reported as seeing flooding
  • Yarmouth, the River Yare water level breached at South Quay at around 21:00
  • Five homes fallen into the sea at Hemsby, Norfolk, where the coastline was washed away

Suffolk

  • Lowestoft town centre was under several feet of water
  • River Orwell burst its banks near the Waterfront in Ipswich, water quickly subsided, and the flood risk passed.

Cambridgeshire

  • Wisbech, in the Fens suffered flooding after flood defences were breached. Wisbech lies about 10km inland, on the River Nene.

Essex

  • Brightlingsea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Manningtree, Heybridge, and parts of Maldon have been worst affected in Essex
  • Essex sea levels are now falling and the Essex coastline avoided major damage due to the tidal surge peaking an hour before high tide

South East England

  • The River Adur broke its banks and submerged areas of Shoreham-by-Sea, a coastal town near Brighton, West Sussex
  • Some flooding in Bursledon and Hamble, Hampshire has been reported
  • Dover Council said at around 02:00 this morning that the high tide had passed without incident
  • High waters breached the River Stour in Sandwich