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1978 North Sea storm surge was a storm surge which occurred over January 11-12 causing extensive coastal flooding and considerable damage on the east coast of England between the Humber and Kent. Higher water levels were reached than during the devastating North Sea flood of 1953 from North Shields to King's Lynn, but values were lower towards the Thames. Locally severe flooding occurred in Lincolnshire, The Wash, north Norfolk and Kent, however improvements in flood protection following the devastating flood of 1953 meant gibblejkfhkhgouhgo. The storm caused severe damage to many piers along the east coast of England.

Meteorological history
On the 10 January at12h utc a cold dropdeveloped south of iceland...http://bibliotheque.meteo.fr/exl-php/docs/mf_-_internet_bibliotheque_numerique_-_publications_de_meteo-france/237254/doc00027096__PDF.txt

On 10 January a depression of 980mb was centred to the southeast of Iceland. This depression was supplied with cold air, and passed to the south east crossing the North Sea on the 11....something gulf of genoa and warm air from iberia... In the course of Wednesday, January 11 drew the core of a deepening depression over the British Isles south east. The trough (978 mbar) was about noon reached the core above the southwestern part of the North Sea was. Then moved to the low pressure area to the Benelux countries and northern France. Around midnight, the air already risen to 990-995 mbar. At the same time there was in the seas between Iceland and Scotland / Ireland a very fast growing significant of high ridge pressure evolved with a clear opening in the expanding direction of the British Isles. Thus not only took the pressure differences are important, but also the air pressure gradient. Over a width of about 600km developed a storm field from north to northeast, with a narrow strip, which the wind has a value of 10 to 11 Beaufort reached. With this development, meteorological great resemblance to the sharp structure of the storm field at the storm depression of 1953, the storm reached its high point field on the southern North Sea proper. This field stretched almost to the coast of Zeeland and Holland, but moved in the course of Thursday, January 12 through the strait to Northwest France. At the same time the intensity of the storm field quickly. The northeastern direction was the water up to our coast a favorable aspect. In contrast, the effects of the southern part of the English east coast, where the violent storm in some areas right on the shore was, much worse. Around noon on January 12 began decreasing wind along the coast to be noticeable, almost everywhere the wind was again decreased to 8 Beaufort.

11 January deepening depression moved southeast across Britain...etc

The last time that Kings Lynn was flooded on its own was on January 11, 1978 when a slow-moving low pressure system was located to the southeast of a major anticyclone, creating a very strong pressure gradient and northeasterly winds on its northern side.

'''Type 3, Southern North Sea: When an ETC storm moves slowly across the southern North Sea, it may become compressed by an anticyclone over Norway developing tightened isobars to the north of the low pressure centre, These can create strong onshore north-easterly winds. A surge of this type was associated with the January 12th 1978 storm, that caused localised flooding in northern Norfolk.'''

surge is driven off the northeast side of a slow moving deep cyclone in the southern North Sea when isobars become concentrated owing to the presence of an anticyclone to the northwest of Scotland. Strong pressure gradients drive onshore winds directly onto the coasts of eastern England (like a classic ‘nor'easter’ along the coast of New England). A storm of this character was that of 12 January 1978.

Warnings and preparedness


Fire brigade strike. Herne Bay Deal-http://sasesearch.brighton.ac.uk/view/?from=search&fromid=&film=863

Impact
winds reached force 9 (75 kmph) with gusts up to 130kmph.

The highest GUSTS noted included 74 kn at Gorleston (nr. Yarmouth / Norfolk) and 70 kn at Kew (London).-http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/climate/1975_1999.htm Outer Trial Bank or earlier trial? Waves recorded in the event of 11/12 January 1978, the third winter of observation, when winds were from the north, were far in excess of the previous maximum (Hs ~ 2 m) and resulted in the total failure of Panels 3 and 4 (Figure 7) (see Table 2, survey of 9.3.78). Panel 5, the permanent riprap, suffered very little damage. This was a very rare combination of wave attack and high tide: the tide level exceeded the calamitous 1953 storm surge in fact. Rare combination of wave attack and high tide, with winds from the north with a long fetch.

Storm surge
''Since 1953, there have been other large surges in the North Sea. Among them one, on 12 January 1978, caused extensive flooding and damage along the east coast of England from Humberside to Kent. London came close to disaster, escaping flooding by only 0.5 m, and the enormous steel and rubber floodgates designed to protect the major London docks were closed for the first time since their completion in 1972.'' Higher than 1953 surge in some places, although caused much less damage.
 * http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/634386?uid=3738032&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=56221487333
 * http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e5VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WnoNAAAAIBAJ&dq=storm%20north%20sea&pg=6239%2C3017356

The storm of 11 January 1978 also caused considerable damage on parts of the east coast of England, including Lincolnshire, the Wash and East Anglia, but except in isolated places, was less severe than the 1953 event (higher surge at Kings Lynn than 1953 flood).

The last time that Kings Lynn was flooded on its own was on January 11, 1978 when a slow-moving low pressure system was located to the southeast of a major anticyclone, creating a very strong pressure gradient and northeasterly winds on its northern side.http://www.rms.com/Reports/1607_Bristol_Flood.pdf

Humberside and Lincolnshire
Boston Floodmap 1978.

Kent
In Kent the Isle of Sheppey -Extensive damage on the Isle of Sheppey and Shell Ness Hamlet with around 400 ha flooded to a depth of 1.5m Serious disruption in Sheerness, flooding Medway road area. Cavour Rd Granville Rd and Rose St, Sheerness Times Guardian newsprint was 3 feet deep, Short Street, Railway Rd and High Street

Sheppey cut off from the mainland by flood and snow.

In the Swale district of Kent '''In January 1978, the tidal defences along the western marshes (Barksore, Chetney and Horsham) were overtopped, and the defences north of Faversham. In addition the tidal defences around the Isle of Harty were breached/failed resulting in flooding around the Isle (although again, the Isle itself mostly escaped the flood). The defences were breached/failed east of The Lilies (NE of Sittingbourne) with flooding occurring along Conyer Creek. Flooding also occurred further up Faversham Creek, but this was considered to be fluvial (rivers) in nature. No residential or business property is indicated as being flooded.'''

In the 1978 storm there was considerable damage at the Seaview Caravan and Chalet Park, Swalecliffe which had been developed by this time. This was due to overtopping rather than any breaching of the defences. 1978 1 in 20 years frequency storm, (*in Kent)

Damage from overtopping of flood defences at Pegwell Bay, between Ramsgate and Sandwich in Kent. flood to Northwest and Southeast of Sandwich.

Families were evacuated by boat from Deal, Kent.

Coastal flooding continued around the Kent coast into the English Channel with water coming over the top of sea defences at St Mary's Bay, Kent on Romney Marsh.-http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2591739



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so that the 1953 surge now looks quite puny compared with the 1978 surge. from http://www.hull.ac.uk/iecs/pdfs/he&c.pdf

Since 1953, there have been other large surges in the North Sea. Among them one, on 12 January 1978, caused extensive flooding and damage along the east coast of England from Humberside to Kent. London came close to disaster, escaping flooding by only 0.5 m, and the enormous steel and rubber floodgates designed to protect the major London docks were closed for the first time since their completion in 1972.Concern over rising sea levels, and the potential catastrophe if London were to be flooded, led the Government to build the Thames Flood Barrier. Based at Woolwich and finished in 1982, it is the world's second largest movable flood barrier.http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/education/teens/case-studies/floods

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/634386?uid=3738032&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21101186476787

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/the_day_the_water_struck_1_700770

http://www.bridgewatch.org.uk/town-reminiscences.html

East Coast of England pier damages
Cleethorpes Pier saw 150 disabled people and pensioners stranded in the town's pier, which withstood the waves largely without significant damage.

Skegness On 11th January 1978, a severe storm washed away two large sections of the pier and left the theatre isolated at the seaward end. Plans to link the two sections by monorail, and to build a new 1200 seat theatre and a 250 foot tower all fell through later that year when an application for financial assistance was rejected.http://www.piers.org.uk/pierpages/NPSskegness.html http://skegnessvideo.com/2008/12/storm-destroys-skegness-pier/

Hunstanton On 11th January 1978, a storm destroyed most of the pier and a small section at the end was removed by the council some weeks later. The shoreward end amusement arcade survived, along with one set of piles, to remind people of what had arguably been East Anglia's finest pier.http://www.piers.org.uk/pierpages/NPShunstanton.html The iron legs of Hunstanton pier were found later washed up 8km to the south of the pier.

Southwold Southwold Pier damaged

Herne Bay Pier On 11th January 1978, storms destroyed the main neck, leaving only a short section intact. The pier-head still remains isolated out at sea.http://www.piers.org.uk/pierpages/NPShernebay.html

he jetty closed in 1976 on safety grounds, and was virtually destroyed by a storm on 11th January 1978 that isolated the lifeboat station. Attempts to demolish the remains were unsuccessful and part of the pier head survives to this day.http://www.piers.org.uk/pierpages/NPSmargate.html

Margate Jetty (to distinguish from stone harbour walls) pier http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2319003, flickr link of pier/jetty destruction and burning http://www.flickr.com/photos/44mlb/2238168287/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/44mlb/2238976446/ The RAF air sea rescue Wessex helicopter from Manston, landed some of the lifeboat crew onto the the station which was isolated by the damage to the pier. After checks for damage to the ramp and that the bottom was clear the lifeboat was taken round to Ramsgate.-http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=4411.0

Shipping
total 18 seamen feared dead.
 * MV Function (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): Grounded on the quayside at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk due to surge tide. Ship cut up for scrap later that month.
 * MV|Holmar||2 (🇳🇱 Netherlands): The coaster capsized and sank 15 nmi north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire with the loss of five crew. -http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?137198
 * Sea Diamond (🇬🇷 Greece): The cargo ship foundered off Lowestoft, Suffolk with the loss of seven crew. Caister and Gorelston lifeboats.
 * MV|Gloriosa (🇨🇾 Cyprus): The cargo ship foundered off the coast of Norfolk, United Kingdom. Five crew killed.
 * MV|Dieppe IV (🇫🇷 France): Dieppe harbour dredger capsizes 1 crewman drowned.
 * Carrick (🇬🇧 United Kingdom): 113-year-old clipper sank at its moorings on the River Clyde in Glasgow.

United Kingdom
High winds damaged the roof of the Grimsby telephone exchange leaving services in disarray. One of earliest sites of domestic occupation in Kings Lynn, 30 Kings Street gable end blown in. Yelling hunts/camb Holy Cross church, east wall of chancel collapse in gale. 30-40cm of snow accumulated in parts of NE England.

France
Just before midnight on Wednesday January 11, 1978 the first calls came into the fire service. in Calais. widespread minor damage from wind to properties. Along the coast there was damage to beach huts which lay broken across the beach.

La niege et les avalanches de janvier 1978 dans les Alpes Françaises. heavy snowfall to the Alps

Switzerland
Switzerland San Bernardino tunnel blocked by snowfall

Spain
Blizzards in Northern Spain San Sebastian and Pamplona deep snow.

Aftermath
British Insurance Association estimated damage at £20 million (1978) $42 million (1978). London narrowly escaped flooding which would have caused an estimated £1 billion (1978) $2.1 billion 1978 USD. first time the new barriers to the royal docks used. Probably one of the last storms to threaten the capital before the Thames Barrier, which began construction in 1974 was largely completed by 1982.

Residents of Cleethorpes are still calling for the clean up of an estimated 1200 tons of debris created from this storm from the destruction of the former sea defences from the North beach in the town.

estimated that about 30 hectares of mixed horticultural crops were affected by floodwater in the Wisbech area, nursery stock valued at about £15,000 has been lost from one holding.-http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/26/flood-damage-wisbech

For example it was estimated that 30,000m3 of material was moved at the Scott Head when the dunes were cut back by 20m during the 1978 storm surge -http://www.plux.co.uk/response-to-the-nps-for-energy-infrastructure-in-relation-to-sizewell-c-nuclear-power-station-january-2011/

http://proactnetwork.org/proactwebsite/media/download/CCA_DRR_reports/casestudies/em.report.case_6.pdf

http://www.ramsgatehistory.com/forum/index.php?topic=422.0

http://www.margatelocalhistory.co.uk/Pictures/Pictures-Storms.html#a9

European Commission decided to offer assistance to UK France Belgium 18th January Flood relief fund of £650,000 (1978) £629,926 to England and Wales and #314,963 to Scotland.

2013 announced that the Cleethorpes North Promenade defences would be upgraded by the Environment Agency.-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-21367758 in conjunction with improvement of protection for Grimsby Docks.-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21364056

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/19/coast-defence#S5CV0942P0_19780119_CWA_384 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/mar/16/storm-warnings#S5CV0946P0_19780316_CWA_151 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/19/storm-damage-east-anglia#S5CV0942P0_19780119_CWA_386 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/26/coast-defence#S5CV0942P0_19780126_CWA_317 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/26/floods-eastern-england#S5CV0942P0_19780126_CWA_369 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/27/floods-1#S5CV0942P0_19780127_CWA_152 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1978/feb/13/floods-east-coast#S5CV0944P0_19780213_HOC_476 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/apr/25/weather-damage-east-anglia-1#S5CV0948P0_19780425_CWA_210 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jul/20/sea-defences-norfolk#S5CV0954P0_19780720_CWA_191
 * http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/24/flood-damage-wisbech
 * http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1978/jan/19/kings-lynn-hospital-flood-damage (or wisbech_
 * http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1978/jan/13/sea-defences-whitstable

damage in Wisbech is in the neighbourhood of £3 million.http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1978-02-08a.1448.1 '''Flood defences were originally built along the sides of the River Nene in Wisbech during the early to mid 1980s following the 1978 flood event and are formed of steel sheet piles, reinforced concrete and brick construction. These defences provide a standard of protection against the 0.5% (1 in 200) AEP tidal flood event for both banks of the river.''' flooding occurred in Wisbech in 1978 as the discharge of surface water was impeded by high tides. The initial cause of the flooding was overtopping of the flood defences alongside the River Nene.

Wells next the sea major flood defence works started in 1983, including brick walls and sliding flood gate. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/955892 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1605340

During the storm surge and subsequent flooding of 1978, the Lincolnshire coastal defences were again heavily damaged and it was obvious that better defences were needed. Between 1984 and 1997, 70% of the defences between Mablethorpe and Skegness were upgraded with a wider range of concrete structures:

At Wells-next-the-sea rebuilding in 1978-9 strengthened the bank, and in 1982 this line of defence was completed by the building of flood-gates across the west end of the quay for protection should the quay again be flooded. The total cost of the flood protection work at Wells between 1978 and 1982 was £1.75 million.

1978 flooding appeal for assistance, from Salvation Army in Suffolk, which later became the Suffolk Emergency Unit.-http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2004/07/27/salvation_army_feature.shtml

damage in Whitstable and Herne Bay estimated at £1 million http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=1978-02-08a.1449.4

Flood insurance premiums still affected in Kings Lynn area due to the surge and flood of 1978, negotiation during the renewal of statement of principles.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvfru/writev/flood/m12a.htm

The fourth aspect of the 1953 flood was the increase in the coastal research effort following the flood. After 1953 the Proudman Laboratory at Liverpool University developed the use of approximate statistical methods for the east coast of England and their continuing research led to the world’s first storm-surge prediction scheme based on a numerical model being set up in 1978 and which has been upgraded ever since (Jones, 1999). Other areas of coastal research that commenced included long-term sea-level change (Jones, 1999).-http://eprints.hrwallingford.co.uk/606/1/HRPP554_Comparison_of_causes,_effects_and_aftermaths_of_coastal_flooding_of_England_in_1953_and_France_in_2010.pdf

Analysis
Surges of comparable magnitude to this and 1953 are not infrequent in the North Sea, 15 are listed between 1883 and 1979. Since 1976, no coastal flood disaster from the North Sea has claimed lives on land.

Fatality associated with January 11/12, 1978 surge. One fatality on land from coastal flooding at Wisbech last deaths in the UK from coastal flooding(http://www.cix.co.uk/~aldes/papers/ALDThamesBarrierD10.pdf) https://www.surgewatch.org/events/1978-01-11/ Total storm fatalities listed as 27, "Killed by storm surge" reported at 20 (which likely includes 17 mariners lost and coastal flooding victim, but may not include French mariner lost in Dieppe). which might be the flooding and marine victims without losses related to strong gales.

Img

 * http://archantnorfolk.newsprints.co.uk/view/7474870/c5957%20kings%20lynn%20floods%201978_jpg
 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2423827
 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2133756
 * http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2188849 margate pier after storm
 * http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=4411.0 forum of margate stom images
 * Kings Lynn church flood 1978? http://www.kingslynn-forums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1500
 * Daves Railpics
 * The aftermath of the 1978 flood Cleethorpes Railway Lines http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517695188243539&set=a.292360764110317.85107.278471468832580&type=1&relevant_count=1
 * Flood Damage 1978 Cleethorpes Railway http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=512533878759670&set=a.292360764110317.85107.278471468832580&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=549270565086001&set=a.549261818420209.134562.278471468832580&type=3&theater

Table
2006-http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/broads/live/authority/meetings/broads-forum/2007/04-12/BFAP-Summary_of_1_November_2006_Flood_Event_-_Appendix.pdf

Subsequent weather
scotland storm 5 fatalities jan 30th