Flooding

The devastating Lynmouth Flood Disaster in 1952 was the result of eight inches of rain falling in 24 hours, high up on the saturated Exmoor peat. The rivers were unable to restrain the raging torrent of excess water. Bridges quickly became blocked with fallen trees and rocks. When they gave way, giant waves of water gushed seawards towards Lynmouth, destroying all in its path

Lynmouth flood, SW England –15 August 1952
Causes of the flood:
Very heavy rainfall throughout the first two weeks of August causing the surrounding ground to become saturated
The drainage basins of the East and West Lyn rivers were very steep which meant that the surface run-off travelled fast towards the sea
An extremely heavy thunderstorm with over ...