UK – High Tides and Huge Waves Bring Flooding to South West

by in Europe, News, UK

A combination of high spring tides and winds of 65 mph (120 km/h) caused coastal flooding in parts of Cornwall and Devon in south west England yesterday, Sunday 10 April, 2016. Also over the weekend, high tides and heavy rain conspired to flood wide areas of Cork, Ireland.

South West England

Huge waves crashed into towns and villages along the coast. The UK’s Met Office issued a warning about the significant impacts from coastal flooding along the south Cornwall coast and on the Isles of Scilly on Sunday morning. At one point on Sunday, 29 flood warnings – the second highest category – and 37 flood alerts had been issued by the Environment Agency, mostly for parts of Cornwall and Devon.

The Environment Agency closely monitored the situation and had teams out checking and operating coastal flood defences. Timely warnings and preventative action meant that damage was kept to a minimum and no fatalities or injuries have been reported.

Some flooding was reported in the Cornish towns of Penzance, Kingsand, St Mawes, Porthleven and Mousehole. High waves overtopped sea defences in Exmouth, Devon. Flooding was also reported in Dawlish, Devon, after waves topped sea defences. Parts of the sea wall and railway lines in Dawlish were destroyed by waves and coastal flooding during a storm in February 2014.

Cork Ireland

The severe weather also brought some flooding to parts of Ireland on Sunday, 10 April, 2016, in particular Cork, where the combination of winds, rain and high tide left several streets under water.