What caused the 2014 Somerset floods?
High tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol Channel exacerbating the problem by preventing freshwater being discharged to sea. The water backed up and overtopped the river banks. For some 20 years, the rivers had not been extensively dredged so they were operating at a much reduced capacity.
What caused the Irish flash floods?
Torrential rain has resulted in flash floods with Munster and Leinster being the worst affected regions of the country. Met Éireann Meteorologist Jean Bryne explains the downpours were sparked off by, A low pressure system to the south of the country that combined with reasonably warm air over Ireland.
What caused the Somerset floods 2013?
The increase in extreme rainfall that led to the flooding was the result of two factors associated with global warming: an increase in the water-holding capacity of the atmosphere and more January days with westerly air flow. Among the worst-affected areas were Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall in the south west.
What caused the heavy rainfall in Cumbria 2015?
Physical causes Warm air from the mid-Atlantic moved towards land due to the prevailing wind. The warm air was forced upwards by the Cumbrian Mountains. As the air cooled, it condensed to form heavy rain. The weather front stopped over Cumbria and this heavy rain fell on land that had already been saturated.
What was the flood damage from the Somerset floods 2014?
During December 2013 and January 2014 heavy rainfall led to extensive flooding with over 600 houses and 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of agricultural land, including North Moor, Curry and Hay Moors and Greylake, affected.
Why is Somerset so prone to flooding?
The Somerset Levels span an area of around 250 square miles, or 160,000 acres. The majority of this area is below sea level, making the land vulnerable to both tidal and land-based flooding.
What happened on the Somerset Levels?
The Somerset floods cost the county’s tourism industry an estimated £200 million. The soil was damaged after being underwater for nearly three months. In some areas, it took over two years to restore the soil before crops could be grown. Insurance costs increased in flood-hit areas of Somerset.