We've just been notified here in the USA that a very bad tidal wave is headed towards the English Channel and will likely hit within 12
hours...
Please stay safe!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=492533&in_page_id=1770&ct=5
Tidal wave heading for England's east coast poses 'extreme danger to life'
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
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East
Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of
Kent."
Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for the latest warnings.
[Edited on 11/8/07 by sgraber]
Not quite a tidal wave - more of an exceptionally high tide. It's the time of year for a Spring tide, plus weather conditions that have raised
the sea level a bit. A lot of East Anglia is barely above sea level, some of it below it and protected by dykes (earth banks, not big tough
women).
If the weather's not too bad then it'll be OK - but it's blowing hard outside just now...
David
(who lives away from the coast, on a plateau)
Englands sinking
Discuss:
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Not quite a tidal wave - more of an exceptionally high tide.
David
(who lives away from the coast, on a plateau)
I heard it's a 3m storm surge on the way.
I'm in Kings Lynn tonight, but it's going to be worse further down the coast. We'll see.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7086280.stm
As stated above, high tide combined with (I believe) autumn high water and a NE-to-NNE wind are funelling water down the North Sea. As also stated
above, much of the East Coast is very low lying so it does'nt take much to flood it. The village where I live is inland but is one of the
aforementioned which is below sea level and protected by earth banks and man-made rivers & drains.
Thanks for the concern Steve, I'm reasonably sure it won't come to much.
quote:
Originally posted by Paul TigerB6
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7086280.stm
The problem is caused by County Councils allowing housing developments on flood plains.
I live half way up a hill.
My Momma didn't raise a fool.
edited out by author
[Edited on 9/11/07 by RK]
We experienced the storm the previous night, as we are 90 miles north east of shetland. 45 - 60 foot waves. I never knew concrete legs could flex so much, bit scary!
quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
I live half way up a hill.
Its funny to me how most big waves, storm surges, Tsunami's, whatever seem to get refered to as being "tidal waves".
The Bristol channel gets a good one most years, usually no more than about 4-6 foot. i have heard that the Amazon river gets the biggest tidal wave in
the world, don't know if thats right or not.
Steve
Thanks for the concerns - I didn't actually realise they were predicting a prob till they announced on the news that flooding wasn't
expected
I don't know if you are aware that there is a current running between the UK and Scandanavia (north to south) then through the English Channel
(this had to be taken into account when building the channel tunnel as they couldn't use sea level for measuring depth, as water is three feet
higher on french side). Naturally the flow off water from North Sea down through channel and the narrowing of waterway, add in moon, winds etc and
water can get quite high. Wasn't as high as 1950 tides apparently.
Scotty,
They tidal bores and iirc the amazon one reaches quite a speed - for adrenalin junkies:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/sep/03/extremesportsholidays.brazil
From Nat Geo:
"The phenomenon is "a wave that forms at the head of the incoming tide in certain rivers or estuaries," explains tidal bore surfer and
researcher Tom Wright of the Tidal Bore Research Society Web site. "It is the product of the tide wave and should not be confused with a
[tsunami]."
A tidal bore can travel in excess of 20 miles an hour (30 kilometers an hour) and gets stronger as the river gets narrow and shallower, reaching
recorded heights of up to 30 feet (9 meters). The pororoca, as the bores are known in the Brazilian Amazon, has been sighted over 180 miles (300
kilometers) inland on the Rio Guajara."
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 10/11/07 by Simon]
I have seen people surfing the Bristol channel wave a few times, they can stay on the same wave for miles and miles.
radical dudes.