Cumbria floods 2009
Cumbria Floods 2009
Between Wednesday 18 November and Friday 20 November 2009, up to 372mm of rain fell on Cumbria. In the 24 hours ending 00:45 on Friday the 20th, 314mm of rain fell on Seathwaite. This is a record daily rainfall for the UK. The rainfall earlier in the week ensured that the ground was saturated in many areas. Flooding occurred in five out of the six Boroughs, the only one escaping being Barrow. The effect on properties was concentrated in Allerdale and South Lakeland with the most significant infrastructure damage occurring in Allerdale.
One person lost their life
2,239 properties affected.
250 farms affected
25 bridges closed (for over 6 weeks)
Significant highway road infrastructure damage
Port of Workington closed (entrance to port obstructed by debris washed downstream)
40 out of 300 waste water treatment works affected Economic impact on surrounding areas caused by infrastructure issues
3,057 businesses affected
80% of businesses in Cockermouth affected by flooding
Estimated costs of £2m per week to public and private sectors and the Communities caused by increased travel time
461 additional pupils requiring school transport
Lake District National Park had 319 separate reports of damage to the rights of way network.
Causes
The prolonged downpour was caused by a long-lasting flow of warm and very moist air which had originated over sub-tropical waters of the Atlantic. Sea temperatures in Atlantic were some 2°C above the November average, enhancing the evaporation of moisture.
The strong winds also refreshed the supply of moist air so that the system was not able to "rain itself out". So, the stronger the flow, the more efficient the rain-making.
Just like any hilly west facing coast, moist air has to rise over the mountains, cools as it rises, and is forced to drop much of its moisture as it cools. So, the Lake District is a naturally very wet part of the country, and the hamlet of
Between Wednesday 18 November and Friday 20 November 2009, up to 372mm of rain fell on Cumbria. In the 24 hours ending 00:45 on Friday the 20th, 314mm of rain fell on Seathwaite. This is a record daily rainfall for the UK. The rainfall earlier in the week ensured that the ground was saturated in many areas. Flooding occurred in five out of the six Boroughs, the only one escaping being Barrow. The effect on properties was concentrated in Allerdale and South Lakeland with the most significant infrastructure damage occurring in Allerdale.
One person lost their life
2,239 properties affected.
250 farms affected
25 bridges closed (for over 6 weeks)
Significant highway road infrastructure damage
Port of Workington closed (entrance to port obstructed by debris washed downstream)
40 out of 300 waste water treatment works affected Economic impact on surrounding areas caused by infrastructure issues
3,057 businesses affected
80% of businesses in Cockermouth affected by flooding
Estimated costs of £2m per week to public and private sectors and the Communities caused by increased travel time
461 additional pupils requiring school transport
Lake District National Park had 319 separate reports of damage to the rights of way network.
Causes
The prolonged downpour was caused by a long-lasting flow of warm and very moist air which had originated over sub-tropical waters of the Atlantic. Sea temperatures in Atlantic were some 2°C above the November average, enhancing the evaporation of moisture.
The strong winds also refreshed the supply of moist air so that the system was not able to "rain itself out". So, the stronger the flow, the more efficient the rain-making.
Just like any hilly west facing coast, moist air has to rise over the mountains, cools as it rises, and is forced to drop much of its moisture as it cools. So, the Lake District is a naturally very wet part of the country, and the hamlet of