Environment Agency
- 9-Mar-2008 - The Environment Agency is
urging people to stay away from exposed
coastal areas and to prepare for severe
weather bringing the risk of high waves
and flooding to Wales, the south west and
southern England.
With severe gale force
winds gusting up to 80m.p.h combining with
large waves and high spring tides across
southern and western parts of the British
Isles from early Monday morning, the Environment
Agency is urging people to check for coastal
flood warnings on local radio, the www.environment-agency.gov.uk
website or by contacting Floodline on 0845
988 1188.
The Environment agency
has opened its national incident room and
is working closely with local government
and emergency services to ensure coastal
areas are prepared as the wind and waves
escalate.
Environment Agency Director
of Operations, Paul Leinster said: “There
will be a potent cocktail of strong winds,
wave action and high tides tonight through
until Wednesday.
"The gale force
winds will combine with spring high tides
to significantly elevate the water levels
along the coast by up to 1.5 metres over
normal levels which is likely to cause some
flooding. Strong winds initially from the
south are expected, then shifting to the
west during the Monday causing severe gales,
with further gales forecast for later in
the day, right through until Wednesday.
“The timing of these
weather systems with high tide is crucial.
Anyone living in low lying exposed coastal
areas of Wales, south west and southern
England should make sure they are monitoring
the situation from this afternoon onwards
by checking flood updates on the Environment
Agency website or ringing Floodline.
"We understand
that people are fascinated by the sea but
at times like this we do urge them not to
go and watch the high waves – it is extremely
dangerous and only takes a few seconds for
someone to be knocked off their feet, into
the water.”
Of particular concern
are the western and southern coast of Wales,
Devon and Cornwall including the Bristol
Channel up to Avonmouth, and the southern
coastline of England.
Since the last severe
gale force storm to hit the south west of
England in 1981, the Environment Agency
has protected 37,000 extra properties from
coastal flooding in this region.
The Met Office and Environment
Agency are continually monitoring the forecast.
People are advised to stay in touch with
the latest weather forecast and warnings
on the Met Office website, and tune into
local radio and TV. Those concerned by the
risk of coastal flooding should call Floodline
on 0845 988 1188 for the latest flood warnings
in their area.
