What caused the storm surge in 1953?
Waverley explained that the flooding was caused by a combination of factors. Strong northerly winds coming in off the Atlantic coincided with a relatively high tide, thereby forcing an unusually large quantity of water down the narrowing north-south axis of the North Sea to the bottleneck at the Straits of Dover.
What happened when a storm surge hit Canvey Island in Essex in 1953?
When floods devastated large parts of the East Coast in 1953, Canvey Island in Essex was one of the places that bore the brunt. Fifty-nine people died and 13,000 were evacuated from their homes after floodwater inundated the island on 31 January.
When was the North Sea storm surge?
North Sea flood, the worst storm surge on record for the North Sea, occurring Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 1953. In the Netherlands some 400,000 acres (162,0000 hectares) flooded, causing at least 1,800 deaths and widespread property damage.
What is a storm surge UK?
A storm surge is a change in sea level that is caused by a storm. They can lead to extensive flooding and are dangerous for people living in many coastal areas.
What happened in 1953 in the Netherlands?
During the weekend of Saturday 31 January to Sunday 1 February 1953, a storm tide raged across the northwest European shelf and flooded the low-lying coastal areas of the countries around the North Sea. The peak high waters occurred during the night and the storm surprised many people in their sleep.
How long do storm surges last?
Depending on the size and track of the hurricane, storm surge flooding can last for several hours. It then recedes after the storm passes. Water level heights during a hurricane can reach 20 feet or more above normal sea level. With powerful waves on top of it, a hurricane’s storm surge can cause catastrophic damage.
What happened on the 31st of January 1953?
The 1953 North Sea flood was a major flood caused by a heavy storm at the end of Saturday, 31 January 1953 and morning of the next day….North Sea flood of 1953.
| Aftermath of the flood in Oude-Tonge, Goeree-Overflakkee, Netherlands | |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 January – 1 February 1953 |
| Location | Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom |
| Deaths | 2,551 |
Whats the worst storm the UK has had?
The 1703 Storm Arguably the worst storm or natural disaster to ever hit the United Kingdom. Without warning, the storm battered the country for more than a week, killing between 8,000 and 15,000 people.
When was the worst storm in England?
A powerful storm ravaged many parts of the UK in the middle of October 1987. With winds gusting at up to 100mph, there was massive devastation across the country and 18 people were killed. About 15 million trees were blown down.