I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in 400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in 1957. The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming down the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down into
the sea. The main difference in 1957 being that there were not dozens of
vehicles being washed through the village, and hence less structural damage
to buildings. 203.2mm was recorded near Wadebridge, and at Tintagel the rain
gauge overflowed.

I wonder if full account was taken of the unusual number of extreme rainfall
events which take place just inland of the north Cornwall / north Devon
coast?

Graham

Penzance Weather www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:30:37 -0000, "Graham Easterling"
wrote:

I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in 400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in 1957. The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming down the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down into
the sea. The main difference in 1957 being that there were not dozens of
vehicles being washed through the village, and hence less structural damage
to buildings. 203.2mm was recorded near Wadebridge, and at Tintagel the rain
gauge overflowed.
And I guess no mass media to send pictures round the world.

"Mike Watson" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:30:37 -0000, "Graham Easterling"
wrote:

I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in
400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in
1957. The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming
down the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down
into
the sea.

.... the town of my birth (Bude) further up the coast, has had notable
floods of property along the river in the following years (at least):
1894, 1903, 1958, 1959 & 1993.

With each event, the 'cost' (monetary and other) increased - the last
one caused a major re-think in the drainage engineering in the area.

The events were not all 'Boscastle' sudden-storm types (and the
topography of the hinterland is not quite so 'severe'), but the
end-effects were the same.

I wouldn't buy a property in the affected area of Boscastle.

Martin.

... the town of my birth (Bude) further up the coast, has had notable
floods of property along the river in the following years (at least):
1894, 1903, 1958, 1959 & 1993.

With each event, the 'cost' (monetary and other) increased - the last one
caused a major re-think in the drainage engineering in the area.

The events were not all 'Boscastle' sudden-storm types (and the topography
of the hinterland is not quite so 'severe'), but the end-effects were the
same.

I wouldn't buy a property in the affected area of Boscastle.

Martin.

I have a recollection that one of the later ones at Bude was made worse by
failure to us the flood defences correctly something to do with the Bude
canal. It is anecdotal and could easily be incorrect.

Alan

"Graham Easterling" wrote in
message ...
I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in 400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in 1957.
The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming down
the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down into
the sea. The main difference in 1957 being that there were not dozens of
vehicles being washed through the village, and hence less structural
damage
to buildings. 203.2mm was recorded near Wadebridge, and at Tintagel the
rain
gauge overflowed.

I wonder if full account was taken of the unusual number of extreme
rainfall
events which take place just inland of the north Cornwall / north Devon
coast?

Graham

Penzance Weather www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html



Statistically this maybe correct, but stats such as they are throw up
inconsistences. Torrentail downpours in the West Country like what was
experienced last year are not new.
The Lynmouth flood was a masisve one which occurred 50 years ago prior
to Boscastle.
I have also heard that geological evidence suggests that there was a
colossal flood in Devon in the 12th or 13th Century in which over 25 inches
of rain fell. No I am not making this one up. It sounds far fetched, but I
see no reason to disbelieve it either. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands
on where I read it. I have a feeling that the Royal Met Society Weather
magazine had this in about 3 or 4 years ago.

Gavin.

How did they measure that then Gavin ?,the odd empty mead barrel lying about
possibly,
or how far up a maidens leg as she sank into a puddle........far more
interesting than a Snowden rainguage

Ronb
"Gavin Staples" wrote in message
...

"Graham Easterling" wrote in
message ...
I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in 400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in 1957.
The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming down
the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down
into
the sea. The main difference in 1957 being that there were not dozens of
vehicles being washed through the village, and hence less structural
damage
to buildings. 203.2mm was recorded near Wadebridge, and at Tintagel the
rain
gauge overflowed.

I wonder if full account was taken of the unusual number of extreme
rainfall
events which take place just inland of the north Cornwall / north Devon
coast?

Graham

Penzance Weather www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html



Statistically this maybe correct, but stats such as they are throw up
inconsistences. Torrentail downpours in the West Country like what was
experienced last year are not new.
The Lynmouth flood was a masisve one which occurred 50 years ago prior
to Boscastle.
I have also heard that geological evidence suggests that there was a
colossal flood in Devon in the 12th or 13th Century in which over 25
inches
of rain fell. No I am not making this one up. It sounds far fetched, but I
see no reason to disbelieve it either. Unfortunately I cannot lay my hands
on where I read it. I have a feeling that the Royal Met Society Weather
magazine had this in about 3 or 4 years ago.

Gavin.

ROFL

Will.
--

"Ron Button" wrote in message
...

How did they measure that then Gavin ?,the odd empty mead barrel lying about
possibly,
or how far up a maidens leg as she sank into a puddle........far more
interesting than a Snowden rainguage

It still peeves me when, hearing on Radio news reports " A months worth
of rain falling in a few hours " if im correct 200mm of rain would be
a tad more than one months worth . Im sure Phillip E will concur

"Mike Watson" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 17:30:37 -0000, "Graham Easterling"
wrote:

I see that the EA have decided that the Boscastle flood is a once in 400
years event.

This despite the fact that there was an almost identical event in 1957.
The
descriptions of the flood were very similar, a wall of water coming down
the
valley into Boscastle. Possessions were washed out of properties down into
the sea. The main difference in 1957 being that there were not dozens of
vehicles being washed through the village, and hence less structural
damage
to buildings. 203.2mm was recorded near Wadebridge, and at Tintagel the
rain
gauge overflowed.
And I guess no mass media to send pictures round the world.

And for what bit of media there was, thankfully, the only thing they knew
about carbon dioxide was that animals gave it off when they breathed out,
plants took it in when they photosynthesised!

On 12 Jan 2005 14:50:33 -0800, wrote:

It still peeves me when, hearing on Radio news reports " A months
worth of rain falling in a few hours " if im correct 200mm of rain
would be a tad more than one months worth.

Depends where you are, 200mm doesn't sound that much more than months
worth of rain to me. Last year the AWS recorded (approx):

Jan - 75mm
Feb - 35mm
Mar - 25mm
Apr - 35mm
May - 25mm
Jun - 60mm
Jul - 60mm
Aug - 175mm
Sep - 170mm
Oct - 80mm
Nov - 152mm
Dec - 80mm

Bear in mind I serviced the rain gauge in August, it was seriously
under reading before then.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail