Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

North Sea storm spares England and the Netherlands

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 13:35 GMT le 09 novembre 2007

A massive fall storm over Europe's North Sea generated winds near hurricane force last night that pushed a dangerous storm surge near 1.5 meters (4.65 feet) in height to the southeastern English coast this morning. The storm surge was much lower than originally feared, due in part to the fact it did not hit at high tide. The surge did breach sea defenses and caused some minor coastal flooding in England. It was feared that the storm might rival the great North Sea Flood of 1953 that breached the dikes in the Netherlands. Over 2,000 people died in northern Europe in that storm, mostly in the Netherlands. While today's storm did not approach the 1953 storm in severity, it did bring the highest storm surge seen in the past 20 years to the North Sea. The massive flood gates that protect the Dutch port of Rotterdam were closed for the first time since they were constructed in the 1990s. From early media accounts, the gates did their job admirably, protecting the Netherlands from inundation. Water levels reached 3.16 meters above mean sea level in the southern Netherlands, and 3.40 meters above sea level in the northern Netherlands, with no flooding reported. The floods of 1953 saw Dutch waters rise to 3.85 meters (12.6 ft) above sea level. Today's storm was not the remains of Hurricane Noel, which is currently over northern Canada.

Figure 1. Visible satellite image of Europe from 1322 GMT November 8, 2007. A powerful 975 mb low pressure system centered north of England ("L" on the image) was pushing a strong cold front southwards towards Western Europe. Image credit: University of Bern, Switzerland.

Figure 2. Forecast waves heights at 6am Greenwich time, Friday November 9, 2007, as predicted by NOAA's Wavewatch III model.

Tropical update
An area of disturbed weather over the extreme southern Caribbean, near Panama, is under about 20 knots of wind shear. The computer forecast models are predicting that some development of this region may occur by Sunday, when wind shear is expected to fall below 20 knots. However, the models are less keen on this prospect than yesterday. Any system that might form is expected to move westward and affect Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

I'll have an update Monday morning, unless there's some new development this weekend.

Jeff Masters

Gales at the Butt (kevindonner)

Storm force winds made taking a good picture difficult, as the lence of the camara got salt on it.

Categories: Winter Weather

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901. NEwxguy 14:51 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
897. Floodman 2:45 PM GMT on November 12, 2007 Wow, slow as can be in here...any one to home? Its a holiday,I guess everyone sleeping late. Member Since: 6 septembre 2007 Posts: 816 Comments: 13120

902. LakeShadow 14:52 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Happy Veteran's Day to all that served our country and Thanks. Member Since: 10 août 2007 Posts: 3 Comments: 2134

903. weatherboyfsu 14:54 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Good morning, Nothing going on in our boring part of the world but thats not true for other parts of the world. The Bay of Bengal is cranking up........ The cyclonic storm “SIDR” over southeast Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary and lay centred at 1430 hours IST of to day the 12 November, 2007 over southeast Bay of Bengal near Lat. 11.0 Deg N and Long. 90.5 Deg E, about 250 Kms west-SOUTHWEST of Port Blair. The system is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction initially. Under its influence, rain/thundershowers at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls ( 25 cm or more ) are likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours. Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph are likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands and adjoining sea areas during next 48 hours. Sea condition is high to very high around the system centre. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea during next 48 hours. Member Since: 17 juillet 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1025

904. Ivansrvivr 14:54 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
"Its a holiday,I guess everyone sleeping late." Ivan is still passed out.

905. weatherboyfsu 14:55 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Notice that "SIDR" is winking at us! I wonder if its a he or she? Member Since: 17 juillet 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1025

906. NEwxguy 14:56 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
shadow,is going to get interesting this weekend. There will be a coastal storm,but no agreement on strength and position.What worries me is there might be blocking setting up,which would slow things down. Member Since: 6 septembre 2007 Posts: 816 Comments: 13120

907. Ivansrvivr 14:56 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
That Cyclone will be a bigtime flood event/

908. weatherboyfsu 14:57 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
It has potential to be nasty.......... Member Since: 17 juillet 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 1025

909. Ivansrvivr 14:57 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
NEwxGuy could you send us floridians some rain??

910. NEwxguy 14:58 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
909. Ivansrvivr 2:57 PM GMT on November 12, 2007 NEwxGuy could you send us floridians some rain?? How about some snow Member Since: 6 septembre 2007 Posts: 816 Comments: 13120

911. Ivansrvivr 14:59 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
They often are in that part of the world. Katrina was a drop in the bucket compared w/ the flooding tropical systems cause over there.

912. Ivansrvivr 15:00 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
I love snow!!! Bring it on. Send enough to make it stick though or its just a tease.

913. Patrap 15:00 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Twas quite a full bucket from our view. Member Since: 3 juillet 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111474

914. Ivansrvivr 15:01 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Gotta go chase a lizard...BBL!!!

915. Floodman 15:11 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
904. Ivansrvivr 8:54 AM CST on November 12, 2007 "Its a holiday,I guess everyone sleeping late." Ivan is still passed out Mo, you're supposed to keep an eye on him... Member Since: 2 août 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919

916. Floodman 15:13 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Yep, Pat...that was some bucket! Member Since: 2 août 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919

917. moonlightcowboy 15:18 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Something cool that Xerox is doing for the TROOPS! If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them ... Member Since: 9 juillet 2006 Posts: 179 Comments: 28118

918. NEwxguy 15:28 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
912. Ivansrvivr 3:00 PM GMT on November 12, 2007 I love snow!!! Bring it on. Send enough to make it stick though or its just a tease. Well,will have to wait till this weekend and see if we get any. Member Since: 6 septembre 2007 Posts: 816 Comments: 13120

919. Ivansrvivr 15:33 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Mo, you're supposed to keep an eye on him... I can see him passed out on the floor. He'll still be there by the time I catch this lizard and eat him.

920. Floodman 15:35 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
I can see him passed out on the floor. He'll still be there by the time I catch this lizard and eat him. Well, don't wake him...he'll only be crabby and hung over... Member Since: 2 août 2006 Posts: 10 Comments: 9919

921. Ivansrvivr 15:37 GMT le 12 novembre 2007
Not hung over, just crabby.

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