LONDON (AFP) — Britain faces possible flooding along its east coast due to a storm surge in the North Sea, creating waves only seen once in 20 years, the government and weather experts warned Thursday.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said police would be on standby in areas most at risk from Thursday evening and through into Friday.
"A tidal surge of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides," he said.
"There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth" and as far as Kent.
The Met Office meanwhile said that the storm surge would "likely" cause coastal flooding.
"A combination of north-westerly winds exceeding 50 mph., low pressure and high tides could lead to severe flooding in the east of England," it said in a statement.
Stewart Wortley, Head of Storm Tide Forecasting at the Met Office added: "the height of the surge we are expecting on Friday morning happens around once every 20 years or so. The gale force winds should ease during tomorrow."
Authorities in Norway and the Netherlands also issued storm warnings and oil companies took action to protect platforms in the North Sea.
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