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January 31, 1953 saw one of the worst storms recorded in Britain. A combination of a high Spring tide, a severe wind storm and a tidal surge in the North Sea caused local water levels to rise. Tidal records in Southend show the 1953 sea level to be at it's highest since measurement began in 1911. A deep depression was tracked over the Shetland Islands before turning into the North Sea. The low atmospheric pressure was 976 millibars at the centre, which caused the sea level to rise by 0.5 meters.
Easten England was devastated by the flood with Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and essex being worst hit. The surge of water reached 2.74 m in Southend in Essex and 2.94m in King's Lynn, Norfolk. A train in Norfolk collided with a house when they were both swept away by the raging waters. Beaches were washed away and farm land flooded.Over 1,600km of coastline was damaged in Britain, and over 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes. In London's East End, 100 meters of sea wall collapsed flooding 1000 homes.
307 people lost their lives as a result of the flood which includes the passengers who died aboard the car ferry Princess Victoria where 133 people perished. Almost 180,00 acres of Easten England were flooded. In the Netherlands, over 332,500 acres were flooded and 1,800 people drowned. the invasion of salt water on the agricultural land contaminated the soil for many years to come.
After the storm, measures were put into place to try and prevent such a catastrophe happening again. The Storm Tide Forecasting Service was set up in the Uk to moniter sea levels and wave activity.It issues warnings of coastal flooding and operates a network of automated tide gauges. Coastal sea barriers were re-engineered and the Thames Barriers were built to protect London. |
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BLH Wiki
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Updated Last:
January 31, 1953 saw one of the worst storms recorded in Britain. A combination of a high Spring tide, a severe wind storm and a tidal surge in the North Sea caused local water levels to rise. Tidal records in Southend show the 1953 sea level to be at it's highest since measurement began in 1911. A deep depression was tracked over the Shetland Islands before turning into the North Sea. The low atmospheric pressure was 976 millibars at the centre, which caused the sea level to rise by 0.5 meters.
Easten England was devastated by the flood with Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and essex being worst hit. The surge of water reached 2.74 m in Southend in Essex and 2.94m in King's Lynn, Norfolk. A train in Norfolk collided with a house when they were both swept away by the raging waters. Beaches were washed away and farm land flooded.Over 1,600km of coastline was damaged in Britain, and over 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes. In London's East End, 100 meters of sea wall collapsed flooding 1000 homes.
307 people lost their lives as a result of the flood which includes the passengers who died aboard the car ferry Princess Victoria where 133 people perished. Almost 180,00 acres of Easten England were flooded. In the Netherlands, over 332,500 acres were flooded and 1,800 people drowned. the invasion of salt water on the agricultural land contaminated the soil for many years to come.
After the storm, measures were put into place to try and prevent such a catastrophe happening again. The Storm Tide Forecasting Service was set up in the Uk to moniter sea levels and wave activity.It issues warnings of coastal flooding and operates a network of automated tide gauges. Coastal sea barriers were re-engineered and the Thames Barriers were built to protect London. |
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