Storm Event

'There was an abnormally high tide'

Severity ? 2

Source

On 4th November 1926, there was reported to be a storm surge along the west coast of Scotland. Reported by the other sources for 5th November 1926, a south-westerly gale caused an “abnormally” high tide at Kirkcudbright.

Pathway

It was reported that high tide on 5th November caused the water to be well over the breastwork at Kirkcudbright harbour, flooding low-lying land (Hickey, 1997).

Receptor and Consequence

This event may have occurred during 4th–5th November 1926, or during one of the two days (depending on which sources are most accurate). The storm surge on 4th November combined with high river flows, caused considerable flooding on the mouth of some rivers (Eden, 2008). In Glasgow, the sea level was reportedly the highest in 44 years. Zong and Tooley (2003) report coastal flooding in Broomielaw and Glasgow, citing newspaper reports which mention “serious” damage resulting from flooding in “many” parts of Scotland (The Times, 1926). At Glasgow, the tide was highest since 1882 (see equivalent report of the sea level event of the day previous, above). At Innerleithen, the High Street was completely under water.

Summary Table

Loss of life *
Residential property *
Evacuation & Rescue *
 
Cost *
Ports Harbour of Kirkcudbright was breached
Transport Innerleithen’s High Street was submerged
Energy *
Public services *
Water & wastewater *
Livestock *
Agricultural land *
 
Coastal erosion *
Natural environment *
Cultural heritage *
Coastal defences *

*No known sources of information available

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References

  1. Hickey, K. R. (1997). Documentary records of coastal storms in Scotland, 1500-1991 A.D. Coventry University. Available at: https://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/file/aa6dfd04-d53f-4741-1bb7-bdf99fb153be/1/hick1comb.pdf.
  2. Eden, P. (2008).Great British Weather Disasters.London: Continuum.
  3. Zong, Y. and Tooley, M. J. A. (2003). ‘Historical Record of Coastal Floods in Britain: Frequencies and Associated Storm Tracks’. Natural Hazards, 29, 13–36. Available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A%3A1022942801531 (Accessed: 5 March 2015).
  4. The Times, 1926. The Channel Gale. Times Newspapers Limited, [London, England]. The Times Digital Archive.