Thanks to the great British weather, there’s no rhyme or reason to when storms might arrive at the seaside. It’s just as likely that windy, rainy, bad weather might arrive in winter as it is in summer.
August 2020 saw a run of storms and bad weather. It doesn’t set you up to endure the winter to come, that’s for sure!
After bouts of rainy, grey days, Storm Ellen arrived on 20 August. She was followed by Storm Francis just a couple of days later.
Take a look at our video, filmed on Cleveleys seafront. Note that this is all filmed at a safe distance or from behind the safety of sea walls –
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Storms of Early 2020 – Ciara and Dennis
In February 2020, the UK was battered by two storms in quick succession. The worst winds for seven or so years, since the last really bad storms over Christmas/the New Year in 2013/14.
Storm Ciara was first to arrive on Sunday 9 February, causing significant overtopping here on the Fylde Coast.
Thanks to Cleveleys resident Andy Blundell for this video of the sea and foam coming over the wall at Rossall Beach, Cleveleys.
Fortunately, as the eye of the storm passed through, the wind was blowing south westerly so we didn’t get the full force of it head-on. You can only be grateful for small mercies. It was certainly bad enough as it was.
The New Rossall Sea Wall Works!
Visit Fylde Coast reader Geoff Plant regularly walks along the new sea wall at Fleetwood. These are his photos, taken during Storm Ciara.
All of the new defences on the Fylde Coast are built in layers, with each step playing a role in diffusing the energy of overtopping waves and containing storm water. In this first photo you can see how the design of the new wall at Fleetwood is keeping the storm under control –
But as Geoff continues walking south to the old section of wall in front of Rossall School, it’s a different matter. Look at the height of the waves here where the new wall ends!
Another Day another Flood
As the aftermath of Storm Ciara passed across the Fylde Coast the wind changed direction. The following Tuesday 11 Feb was a very different day, with the added combination of high Spring Tides and head-on westerly winds.
The high tide at lunchtime brought with it huge waves and even more overtopping of the sea wall along the full length of the Fylde Coast. Here’s what was happening at Cleveleys –
The Day After the first Storm
On Wednesday 12.2.20 we went out to see what the toll was from the storms at Cleveleys.
The beach itself looked immaculate! Swept completely flat and the pebbles graded as if they’d been raked to within an inch of their life. Still a windy morning but one of those lovely days for a walk if you’re wrapped up warm. Take a look –
However, the tidiness of the beach belied the mess which was to be found on the road. Pebbles, sand, twigs and litter weren’t on the beach because they’d been swept up onto the highway.
Inconvenient as this is to the council who have to clear it away, the exceptionally high beach gives the best form of protection against the next high sea or storm.
The Calm Before the (next) Storm…
A day or two of calm followed, when the wind dropped to barely a breeze… Peace and quiet after the incessant howling of the gales. The sun shone and the Fylde Coast looked at it’s best. The council came to Cleveleys and spent the best part of the day clearing the stones back onto the beach and sweeping the highway at Rossall Beach.
But it wasn’t to last and by Sunday 16 February Storm Dennis was here, and it all started again! Thankfully, the high Spring Tides had passed and Storm Dennis wasn’t as ferocious as Storm Ciara.
We were at the seafront at Anchorsholme on the Friday before Storm Dennis arrived. As you can see the wind had already started to get up –
However, other areas of the UK really suffered from the impact of two storms in quick succession. With the ground already saturated from heavy rain, serious flooding has occurred all over the country. Rivers burst their banks in many villages and towns, and devastation has been wrought from north to south.
Named Storms
Each year the Met Office and Met Éireann reveal the names for storms for the coming season. Is your name on the list?
Naming UK storms began in 2015. It was the US National Hurricane Centre which established the pattern of the names alternating between male and female names, back in the 1970’s.
Why are Storms given a Name?
The purpose of calling storms by a name is to raise our awareness of severe weather, before it hits and while we can prepare for it.
Naming storms has helped to make people more aware of severe weather, but in a Met Office survey only one third of people said they took action at home after a warning. The purpose of the name is to make us all listen – then we can fasten windows, secure loose items outside and generally make our possessions secure. It’s also advisable to check on the safety of outdoor pets, along with checking on family and neighbours.
A storm is named on the basis of ‘medium’ or ‘high’ potential impacts from wind. It also includes the potential impacts of rain and snow. Storms will be named for weather systems which are expected to lead to an Amber or Red warning being issued by Met Éireann and/or the Met Office’s National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS).
More about Naming Storms
Storms have been given names for many years. Going back to the 16th century, records show that cyclones in the Caribbean were named after saints. Then, in the 1950s the National Hurricane Centre started naming tropical cyclones. Watch this short Met Office video clip which explains more –
Storms visiting the Fylde Coast
The last particularly ferocious storms to hit the Fylde Coast were over the winter of December 2013 and January 2014. There were two separate and very similar events only a few weeks apart. A combination of high tides, strong westerly winds and low pressure combined to create storm surges and overtopping.
One event was 5 December 2013 and the next 3 January 2014, both with exceptionally high tides. The coastline from Fleetwood to Lytham was flooded in parts when spring tides were driven to shore by the high winds.
Flood Warnings and Alerts were in force for the coastline from Fleetwood to Lytham throughout the day.
Storms at Cleveleys
These photos are from the storm of 3 January 2014.
With high tide at lunch time (12.20pm) the waves were already starting to splash over the sea wall at northern Cleveleys by 11am. Take a look at these photos of the storm in full swing at lunch time. By noon, the waves were overtopping onto the promenade and at high tide the water from the top of their crests was reaching the height of the lamp posts on North Promenade.
Almost an hour after high tide, the waves were still coming over the wall at Cleveleys. Take a look at this video filmed during the first storm on 5 December 2013.
At Lytham the sea water reached the foot of the windmill on the Green. In central Blackpool the promenade was under water for the second time in only a few weeks. With the sea water comes a lot of sand, stones and debris to clear away. The next high tide at midnight brought a second overtopping in the same day.
One in 200 Year Storm – Photos taken in Cleveleys on 5 December 2013
On 5 December 2013, the Fylde Coast experienced a one in 200 year storm event, with high winds, a high tide and low pressure combining to create mayhem!
Sea Foam Flying During Storms
If you’ve never seen the sea foam during storms at Cleveleys it’s quite a sight!
It’s caused by decaying algae in the water. In the right conditions it whips up into a sandy froth which blows off the top of the waves and wobbles to shore. It can reach several feet in depth before collapsing to leave a dry sandy residue that is awful to wash away.
And of course all of this awful winter weather takes a toll on your house! If you’re lucky enough to live by the seaside, or you’re thinking of moving here, here are some house maintenance tips.
While you’re here…
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