2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe
2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe were a series of winter storms affecting areas of Atlantic Europe and beyond. The French Atlantic coastal regions, South West and Southern England, West Wales, Ireland, Spanish Atlantic coastal regions were especially affected by a "conveyor belt" series of high-precipitation storms and by high tides. Many storms were explosively deepened by a strong jet stream, many deepening below 950 hPa. The repeated formation of large deep lows over the Atlantic brought storm surges and large waves which coincided with some of the highest astronomical tides of the year and caused coastal damage. The low pressure areas brought heavy rainfalls which led to flooding, which became most severe over parts of England such as at the Somerset Levels. The repeated storms fit into a pattern of disturbed weather in the Northern Hemisphere, which saw from November 2013 a disturbance to the jet stream in the western Pacific, which propagated eastwards bringing a warm winter to Alaska, drought to California, and repeated cold air outbreaks to the eastern USA where the early 2014 North American cold wave resulted.
2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe
2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe
High waves at Porthcawl 27 December
Winter flooding of 2013–14 on the Somerset Levels
From December 2013 onwards the Somerset Levels suffered severe flooding as part of the wider 2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe and subsequent 2013–2014 United Kingdom winter floods. The Somerset Levels, or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are less commonly but more correctly known, is a coastal plain and wetland area of central Somerset, in South West England, running south from the Mendip Hills to the Blackdown Hills.
NASA Satellite image of flooding on the Somerset Levels
Confluence of the Rivers Parrett and Tone at Burrowbridge during flooding in February 2014
Greylake next to King's Sedgemoor Drain showing extensive flooding on 26 February 2014
Curry Moor pumping station