Batten down the hatches

Today's surprise message on the answerphone (and I'm most impressed at the Environment Agency's ability to do these mass robocalls - the answerphone got the call at the same time that the alert appeared on their website) is another flood alert:

Predicted astronomical tide level 1.76 mAOD
Forecast surge height 1.12 m
Forecast high water level 2.88 mAOD
Forecast high water level in Chart Datum 5.61 mCD
Forecast wind direction South Westerly
Forecast wind strength Force 10

Forecast high tide will be the highest level for at least 7 years

That's... a rather large storm surge, especially to have made it this far up the creek. Remember, to reach Fareham proper the tide has to pass through the gap between Gosport and Portsmouth before spreading out into Fareham lake. The answerphone message additionally warned that "flooding is expected 2 hours before high tide". Now, I do live on the first floor so the chances of me getting flooded by the sea are tiny (the last floods didn't even reach the bottom of the steps to the front door) so I'm not overly worried, but still that's quite the storm.

Batten down the hatches, folks.

(no subject)

A moment ago, I thought I'd head out and see just how high the tide was.

The sea's not yet reached the road outside the flats, but it does look decidedly choppy. There's a couple of hours to go until high tide though.

Then I headed the other way, meaning to go towards where I took the photos last month, and got maybe fifty yards beyond the shelter of the buildings before almost being blown over by the full force of the storm. It's really windy, as in brace-yourself-to-stay-upright windy. And I don't fancy being caught in the open if an even stronger gust arrives - there's no shelter at all along this bit of path.

I think I'll just stay here instead :)

(no subject)

Well, the sea is now at the bottom of the steps to the front door. And it's still three-quarters of an hour until high tide.

It is a bit disconcerting, looking out the window and seeing the sea instead of the road. Though I suppose this does mean that I now have a moat :)

I have a moat!

( I have a moat! )