Storm Event

Severity ? 2

Source

No known sources of information.

Pathway

Burrows (2017) reported flooding in Dorset, where sea poured over the sea wall at Preston and Portland Beaches.

Receptor and Consequence

This event was associated with the worst flooding during the winter of 1978 at Hayling Island (Ruocco et al. 2011). Many local roads became impassable, and “scores” of residential properties exposed to 15 ft. [4.6 m] waves were flooded. The sea wall and car park were destroyed in West Bay, Isle of Portland during this event (West, 2014). In Dorset, people were advised to evacuate their homes as waves caused considerable damage to a car park, the surface of Esplande Road, flooding other local roads and a hotel (Burrows, 2017).

Summary Table

Loss of life *
Residential property Homes on Gibraltar Road damaged by flood waters. Garden flooded on Culver Drive
Evacuation & Rescue People advised to evacuate homes along south Dorset coast
 
Cost *
Ports *
Transport Some local roads impassable on Hayling Island, including Northney Road, Wheatlands Avenue, Treloar Road, Southwood Road, Gibraltar Road. Roads affected in Dorset, including Victoria Square
Energy *
Public services *
Water & wastewater *
Livestock *
Agricultural land *
 
Coastal erosion *
Natural environment *
Cultural heritage *
Coastal defences At West Bay, sea wall was destroyed

*No known sources of information available

References

  1. Burrows, S. (2017). Analysis of Historical Coastal Floods in Dorset from 1935 -2014. Southampton Undergraduate Thesis.
  2. Ruocco, A. Nicholls, R. J., Haigh, I. D., and Wadey, M. (2011). ‘Reconstructing Coastal Flood Occurrence Combining Sea Level and Media Sources: A case study of the Solent UK since 1935’. Natural Hazards, 59(3): 1773-1796. Available at: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-011-9868-7 (Accessed: 27 March 2015).
  3. West, I.W. (2014). Chesil Beach -Hurricanes, Storms, and Storm Surges. Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. Available at: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/chestorm.htm (Accessed: 8 March 2015)
  4. Burrows, S. (2017). Analysis of Historical Coastal Floods in Dorset from 1935 -2014. Southampton Undergraduate Thesis.