LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952

1
LYNMOUTH FLOOD 1952
its going to be a very wet tale
2
setting the scene I
so where is this Lynmouth place?
Lynmouth is situated on the North Coast of
Devon
oh, so thats where all the action is going to
take place!!
3
setting the scene II
what were the CAUSES of the flood?

• August of 1952 was extremely wet
• the ground had become saturated
• on the evening of August 15th 230mm (23cm) of
  rain fell in a freak storm
• lasting 14hours (over 3000million gallons of
  water)
• Immediate surface run-off causing a flash flood

?Im singing in the rain, Im singing? hang on
its getting very wet here!
4
setting the scene III
yep you guessed it, more CAUSES

• Impermeable (water cant soak in) rocks mean
  increased run-off
• Steep river gradient small drainage basin
  narrow river valleys

The River Lyn had been narrowed and diverted - to
build hotels stuff!
hmm good idea? let me think
5
THE FLOOD
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the impacts

• The narrow arch of the river became blocked the
  river flowed down the main
• street following the easiest path

Over 100,000 tonnes of boulders left in the main
street one boulder found in the basement of a
hotel weighed 7.5 tonnes
Rocks of 10m3 moved by traction
34 people killed 90 houses/hotels destroyed
130 cars/19 boats destroyed
this is all pretty serious stuff
7
Lynmouth Today

• River takes natural route (same as flood)
• Floodplain left to take water
• Larger wider bridges
• Where hotel was is now open
• Channel has been straightened to allow
• water to flow away more quickly

phew! glad they did somethingoh! one last
thing!