Storm Bram - Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

Plenty of pebbles & weed on the prom, and in the gardens of the cattages across the road. Wind not exceptional, just about a F8 right on the sea front. Peaked around 60-65mph on exposed cliff tops

Plenty of photos of the prom on news websites, most archive photos, as is normally the case. 

Graham

Penzance

[Nick Gardner]

Very stormy here along the south coast of Devon today as well.

Huge surf down at Sidmouth, totally blown out. Some of the waves reached 3 metres about a 100 metres out where there is a reef and can offer good surfing but only for the brave/mad under such conditons. Closer in the fine red sand gets churned up by the waves turning the sea ginger. The pebbles get thrown up onto the Esplande and it is a brave person who drives along there risking a right pebbledashing. The hotels on the other side of the road have had their windows smashed under such conditions. If you want to walk along the sea front it is best to wear a hard hat.

Nick

Otter Valley, Devon.

[Graham Easterling]

It got rather more exciting here later yesterday. The swell into Mount's Bay built as the day went on, it was really impressive even low tide yesterday afternoon. The last 2 tides seeing the sea flood the railway line into Penzance, so no trains. The astronomical tides might have been 0.1 or 0.2m smaller than the day before, but the surge was certainly higher (unfortunately Newlyn data seems unavailable) and swell height bigger. 

Also, although the mean wind speed slowly decreased yesterday, some violent squalls in showers brought down trees. The main A30 into Penzance is shut. THis is the current situation 100 yards from my house. Taken 9:15 today.

So basically main rod and railway line into Penzance currently shut. Quite an event in the end.

Vast amounts of sand stripped from the beaches over the last week, bit like the old days (1990s).

Graham

Penzance

[Graham Easterling]

It seems that the series of very high tides has resulted in the water being unable to drain from Marazion marsh adequately during periods of low water. The level has steadily increased, despite the level of the Red River at Marazion being nothing special.

A similar issue at Loe Pool - near Helston . The lake drains at low water, as with Marazion Marsh

Level of the River Cober 1 mile upstream of the Pool

At Loe Pool

So overtopping played a part, as did river levels, bit it was combination of both together with a prolonged period of big seas which caused the issue.

Still no trains.

Graham

Penzance