Source

The storm developed along the eastern US seaboard on 23^rd February 1967, and moved northeast towards Nova Scotia, Canada, before following an easterly to north-easterly track towards the UK (heading between Iceland and Scotland). On the afternoon of 28^th February, the storm centred about 600 km north of Scotland with a central pressure below 945 mbar, generating strong south-westerly winds.

The sea levels were described as “exceptionally” high (Hansard, 1967). The storm generated a skew surge of greater than 0.75 m at 6 sites from northern Scotland to the southern North Sea (including a skew surge at Lowestoft of over 1 m). Sea levels exceeded the 1 in 5 year return level at 2 sites in Scotland. The highest return period sea level was at Aberdeen and was 10 years. The next largest sea level return period of 1 in 6 years was at Ullapool.

We are unaware of any sources describing the wave conditions during this event.

Pathway

This event saw defences overtop, outflank, overflow and breach over long stretches of coastline in estuaries around the Solway Firth in southwest Scotland. Concerns were raised about the state and maintenance of defences that may have led to the severity of this event – for example a culvert “choked” with the flood and caused the loss of 40 sheep (Hansard, 1967).

Receptor and Consequence

Properties were affected in many locations including Carsethorn, Southerness, Rockcliffe, Kirkcudbright, Creetown, Carseluith, Garlieston, Isle of Whithorn, Port William, Drummore and Port Patrick (Hansard, 1967; Hickey, 1997). This extensive list would suggest that hundreds of properties were impacted, although the number is not clearly stated anywhere and may be many more. In addition, there was extensive damage to farms, businesses and roads, with the cost likely to have totalled several hundreds of thousands (Hansard, 1967). At Mersehead, 200 acres of arable land (out of about 500 acres) were still under salt water two days later. River and sea banks were destroyed at other farms. At Grange of Cree and neighbouring farms over 500 acres was lost in this and previous flooding. There was also damage to salmon farming sites on the east coast.

This event was serious enough to be debated in the Scottish House of Commons (Hansard, 1967). The MP for Galloway, John Brewis stated that the damage on this occasion was “extensive and grievous” all along the coast. MP for Dumfries Hector Monro lamented the number of elderly affected, and loss of business for farms (Hansard, 1967). He also stated: “[this event was] a very tragic example of how this sort of flood very often hits the people who have the least facilities to repair their houses, furniture, carpets and other possessions”.

Summary Table

*No known sources of information available