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Winds Batter Britain 140mph Evacuations In Coastal Areas Due To Expected Tidal Surge
TheFaceintheclouds·Published on Dec 5, 2013
Updated Links Below!! Rescue operations launched across Britain as 140mph Arctic storms leave 120,000 homes without power, pedestrians blown to the ground and thousands stranded in several feet of water. Thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds rescued today as 140mph winds battered Britain in a hurricane-force storm. A lorry driver died in Scotland and a man riding a mobility scooter in King's Park in Retford, Nottinghamshire, was also killed when hit by a falling tree.
More than 120,000 homes were left without power as the most serious tidal surge for 60 years is predicted to hit the east coast tonight. More than 10,000 homes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are being evacuated, while residents were also rescued in Rhyl, North Wales, and Merseyside. As they were taken away from their homes in dinghies, forecasters feared the worst is yet to come during tonight's high tide at around 10pm.
More than 240 flood alerts were in place across England and Wales, with 6,000 homes expected to suffer from flooding in the next 24 hours. Sea levels could be as high as those during the floods of 1953 that left 307 dead, although defenses have significantly improved since then. The lorry driver died and four other people were hurt when his HGV fell onto cars on the A801 in West Lothian as winds disrupted transport networks.
This morning the entire rail network in Scotland was suspended, with trains halted at their nearest stations and passengers told to disembark. Motorists in Scotland have also been warned not to travel due to 'extremely dangerous' road conditions. Homes in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, were evacuated after officials warned that the lives of people in the region could be at risk from the tidal surge.
Transport Scotland has escalated its travel warning to stage four red, advising people to avoid traveling, particularly in high-sided vehicles. Closures, fallen trees, minor accidents and incidents of flash flooding are affecting the road network in the south, west, central and Perthshire areas. Wave and surfing expert Ed Temperley, editor of global surf forecasting website Magic Seaweed (MSW) explained: 'A tidal surge is effectively a wind and pressure driven rise in the sea level. This can be exacerbated by waves associated with the storm and particularly at high tide.'
More than 1,000 homes in Suffolk are to be evacuated ahead of tonight's tidal surge. Essex Police added that parts of Jaywick, a small seaside village near Clacton, will also be evacuated. The Environment Agency (EA) has issued three severe flood warnings for parts of the seaside town - the highest category, warning of danger to life. Down the east coast, the EA has issued 26 severe flood warnings as high tides and strong winds threatened to swamp the coastline. A Herne Bay Coastguard spokesman in Kent said high tides are forecast at 2.30am and 2.45pm tomorrow - and these are expected to coincide with a large coastal surge.
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