Storm Event

'The “Valentine’s Day Storm” hits the south coast of the UK, triggering severe flood warnings from Cornwall to Hampshire'

Severity ? 3

Source

The storm developed in the Atlantic east coast of Canada on the 12th February 2014 and moved northeastwards across Ireland and northern England. During the afternoon on 14th February, the depression was centred over Ireland with a central pressure of about 960 mbar. Strong southwesterly winds were felt along the south, southwest and west coasts. Widespread gale force winds of up to 70 knots [36 m/s were recorded in England, Wales and Scotland, and gusts of up to 94 knots (48 m/s) at the Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight (Met Office, 2014). This storm was the last in a series of at least 12 major storms that impacted the UK during the winter of 2013/14.

The storm generated some of the largest recorded skew surges at several sites in the UK southwest. Water levels exceeded the 1 in 5 year return level at two sites on the central south coast: (1) 1 in 11 years at Weymouth, and (2) 1 in 9 years at Portsmouth (where a skew surge of 1.20 m was measured).

The storm was accompanied by ‘huge’ waves and heavy rain (BBC, 2014a).

Pathway

Overtopping of sea defences was the primary mechanism for flooding during this event.

Receptor and Consequence

This event impacted areas in the south and southwest coasts, including Cornwall where there was considerable overtopping. In Newlyn, the overtopping led to flooding of adjacent streets and properties (BBC, 2014b). In Plymouth, there were reports of overtopping of the sea wall by large waves, coastal flooding, and damage to sea front properties (BBC, 2014a). Significant erosion and damage to sea defences was also reported at Hurst Spit (Hampshire) and Chesil Beach (near the Isle of Portland, Dorset) (West 2014). At Milford on Sea, Hampshire, 32 people were rescued from a beach front restaurant as waves threw shingle and smashed ground floor windows (WeatherForecast.co.uk, 2014). Residents in Mudeford (Christchurch, Dorset) were also evacuated (Bournemouth Echo, 2014). A high volume pump was deployed at Lymington quay to alleviate tidal flooding, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue responded to a 93 year old woman in Lymington who needed to be rescued from chest high flooding within her house, where she also had no electricity (HFRS, 2014). Roads across Dorset were flooded – including Shore Road, Sandbanks (Poole, Dorset) which was under 4 ft. [1.22 m] water (Bournemouth Echo, 2014). Rivers across Dorset and Hampshire (e.g. Stour at Wimborne, Avon at Fordingbridge) burst their banks (although mainly due to heavy rainfall). Elsewhere on the south coast there was widespread damage, traffic disruption due to fallen trees and power failures (WeatherForecast.co.uk, 2014). Severe flooding also occurred along the River Thames, with streets awash with sewage in Egham, Surrey (BBC, 2014c) – although this was more rain than tide-surge related.

In London, a motorist was killed after falling masonry struck a vehicle (Met Office, 2014).

At the time of this event, following the storms earlier during the winter, around 14,000 properties in Wales were without electricity (BBC, 2014d).

Summary Table

Loss of life *
Residential property Properties were flooded in locations including Newlyn, Plymouth, Mudeford, Lymington, and Milford-on-Sea
Evacuation & rescue 32 persons were evacuated in Milford-on-Sea
 
Cost *
Ports *
Transport Local roads flooded in many locations, which caused much disruption
Energy *
Public services *
Water & wastewater *
Livestock *
Agricultural land *
   
Coastal erosion Severe overwashing and damage to Hurst Spit (the gravel barrier at the entrance of the Solent)
Natural environment *
Cultural heritage *
Coastal defences Overtopping occurred in locations including Newlyn, Plymouth, Poole Bay, Milford-on-Sea, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and numerous other south coast locations. The shingle barriers of Hurst Spit and Chesil Beach were also left damaged.
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See weather conditions

Affected Sites

Name Return Period ? Water Level ? Tide ? Skew Surge ? Date ?
WEYMOUTH 11 2.93 1.89 1.03 14th Feb 2014 19:45
PORTSMOUTH 9 5.53 4.28 1.25 14th Feb 2014 23:00

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References

  1. Met Office, (2014). February 2014. Available at: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/2014/february (Accessed: 25 August 2014)
  2. BBC, (2014a). ‘UK Storms: Plymouth gales “nearly blew me off my feet”.’ Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26199635 (Accessed: 25 August 2014]
  3. BBC, (2014b). ‘UK storms: Huge waves crash into Newlyn, Cornwall’. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26201276 (Accessed: 25 August 2014).
  4. West, I.W. (2014). ‘Chesil Beach -Hurricanes, Storms, and Storm Surges’. Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. Available at: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/chestorm.htm (Accessed: 8 March 2015)
  5. WeatherForecast.co.uk, (2014). UK Storm 14th February 2014. Available at: http://www.weatherforecast.co.uk/blog/uk-storm-14th-february-2014-80mph-gales-heavy-rain-expected-south/ (Accessed: 25 August 2014)
  6. Bournemouth Echo, (2014). ‘Dorset Storms: major incident declared after residents evacuated, trees down and roads flooded’. Available at: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11013697.Dorset_Storms__major_incident_declared_after_residents_evacuated__trees_down_and_roads_flooded/ (Accessed: 26 March 2015)
  7. HFRS, (2014). ‘Hampshire hit hard by storms – Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service attends more than one hundred incidents. Busy 24 hour period… Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’. Available at: http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/incidents-news-and-events/news/2014/hampshire-hit-hard-by-storms-hampshire-fire-and-rescue-service (Accessed: 26 March 2015)
  8. BBC, (2014c). ‘UK floods: “Streets awash with sewage” in Egham, Surrey’. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26199631 (Accessed: 25 August 2014).
  9. BBC, (2014d). ‘UK storms: “The wind peeled my roof off.”’ Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26193562 (Accessed: 25 August 2014)