Given that we know what’s coming in the early hours, it’s fair to say that this is the calm before the storm, that storm being Ciarán. According to the government’s check-for-flooding website, here in Bristol we’re not going to get the very worst of Ciarán, but for many folk, particularly though not solely on the south coast, tonight is going to be a night to remember and not in a nice way.
Lots of places I know are going to get a hammering. The only English resort to which I went on holiday until I was well into my teenage years, West Bay in Dorset, is in serious danger of suffering major floods. Large parts of what is probably my favourite seaside town, Weymouth, are at risk, as is lovely Looe in East Cornwall, which has already suffered from major flooding events in recent days. I could go on picking out some of my favourite places but in truth the entire coast from around Penzance almost as far as Dover is at threat, not to mention inland towns and cities near major rivers.
I am old enough to remember the great flood of 1968 when on a July evening the heavens opened and stayed open all night, turning Briz Village (Brislington Village, Bristol) into a boating lake covering a double decker bus up to the top deck. Our house on Warrington Road was raised up from the village but Kenneth Road which was out the back of us was level with it and next to a small brook which burst its banks and turned into – and I am not making this up – a raging torrent. My mum and I watched the river flow, carrying everything, but specially dustbins in its path. It was scary enough for a young boy, I can tell you.
Nearby Keynsham and Pensford saw bridges destroyed, to be temporarily replaced by Bailey bridges. Ever since then, even now as I move into my geriocracy, I am still in awe, and not a little frightened when I see nature do its worst. And every time I hear of a new storm approaching, my mind goes back to July 1968. Seven people died in the so-called great flood of Bristol and, I fear, we may hear some grim stories overnight and into tomorrow.
Some warnings are stronger than others, none more so than the Channel Islands which face winds of up to 90 mph, along with an unusually high tide. I heard an official on the radio earlier urging people to “travel only if it is absolutely necessary, by which I mean a life-threatening emergency.” Yes, that strong.
Clearly, these extremes are going to become the norm as climate change sets in, yet all we do about the changing weather is moan about it.
I hope we all stay safe and that people don’t see their homes and businesses destroyed. It’s going to be a long night and day.
