9 ft Tidal surge/ wave heading for England

[ScubaSarus]

Looks like its already been spotted in the N. Sea. Wow this is really something to tune in to. 1953 all over again ? Good they have a warning this time, hope everyone gets to safty.

Tidal wave heading for England's east coast poses 'extreme danger to life' | the Daily Mail

Tidal wave heading for England's east coast poses 'extreme danger to life'
Last updated at 22:03pm on 8th November 2007

Comments Comments (9)
Tens of thousands of householders are today preparing for some of the worst coastal floods in decades.

Sea levels could rise up to 9ft this morning along part of the East Coast, putting lives at risk.

Sea defences in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft could be breached around 7am, sending a torrent of salt water into the towns.

• Eight severe flood warnings issued by Environment Agency

• Surge expected to hit east coast in next 12 hours

• Police on standby to evacuate homes

• Dartford Creek and Thames barriers closed

Police and fire services were last night preparing to evacuate thousands of homes. Householders were stocking up on sandbags and emergency provisions.

The Norfolk Broads, Essex and northern Kent could also be hit, and the entire coast from Immingham in Humberside to Margate in Kent has been told to be on alert.

The Environment Agency, which issued eight severe flood warnings, last night said it was "gravely concerned" about the threat.

Gordon Brown called a meeting of the emergency Cabinet committee Cobra to prepare for his third major flood crisis since taking office in the summer.

The tidal surge is being caused by 50mph winds in the North Sea, an unusually high tide and an area of low pressure off the East Coast.

Simon Hughes, of the Environment Agency, said: "Great Yarmouth is very low lying and the surge is expected to hit at the same time as the high tide."

 

[Teamcasa]

Let's hope it passes with no damage or loss of life.

 

[String]

Im struggling to see how 9ft is a big problem when places get 20ft tidal variation normally with spring tides.

Doesn't appear to correspond to high water either.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Well here are the results of the tidal wave. Note the fear in the eyes of this guy floting on a piece of debris he used to manage to stay afloat.

A surfer rides a wave in Gorleston-on-Sea as a tidal surge hits the east coast of England

Surfer John Mclellan, 19, a stock controller at a hardware store who lives in Gorleston, Norfolk, said: "Me and my friends are keen surfers and we tend to get down here about once a month.

"The tide is very high so the conditions are pretty good - although the waves aren't the biggest I've ever seen here.

"Hopefully we will be here most of the day."

 

[Rick Murchison]

Im struggling to see how 9ft is a big problem when places get 20ft tidal variation normally with spring tides.

Well, 9' ain't a big deal in places where 20' is normal, is it? But 9' in a place with a gentle slope and a "normal" tide of 1' or 3' is a significant event. Along the Gulf of Mexico, for example, a 9' surge will flood most of the beachfront structures and cause massive damage.
Rick

 

[chrisch]

It has passed without any real problems. 9 foot is big when its at the top of the tide and with wind driving the sea onshore - as was the case today. It was about 20cm (or around a foot for those addicted to last century's measurements) short of the sea defences and a real "New Orleans" style washout.

Chris


Photos here: BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Fears of flooding

 

[Adrian Kelland]

Im struggling to see how 9ft is a big problem when places get 20ft tidal variation normally with spring tides.

Doesn't appear to correspond to high water either.

The surge height was additional astronomical tide height and caused by low pressure and strong northerly winds. Luckily, the surge was also a little behind the astronomical tide, so slightly reduced the flooding risk.

 

[String]

Lots of hype in the media again for a non event.

Daily Express was particularly amusing.