December 1981 windstorm

The December 1981 windstorm was a severe storm that particularly affected southern England, Wales and south west France during 13 December 1981. The storm formed as a secondary low.

In England, the storm started with violent winds and snow, which reached Cornwall during the morning. Prior to its arrival a number of record low temperatures were reached for December, with -25.1C at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire[http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/philip-eden/Snowiest-of-20th-century.htm Philip Eden: Snowiest of 20th century]- weatheronline.co.uk, accessed 2011-03-25 and -5.9C in Southampton[http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8717227.Forecasters_predict__12_tonight_in_Hampshire/ Weather forecasters predict -12 tonight in Hampshire] Southern Daily Echo, published 2010-12-02, accessed 2011-03-25.{{fact|date=July 2020}}

In the evening spring tides combined with a {{convert|1.45|m|ft|abbr=on}} storm surge{{cite web |title=CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE SEVERN ESTUARY Sea level |url=http://www.severnestuary.net/sep/partnership/docs/ClimateChangeReportCard2.pdf |publisher=Severn Estuary Partnership |access-date=8 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516221330/http://www.severnestuary.net/sep/partnership/docs/ClimateChangeReportCard2.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2011 }} resulted in the highest water levels recorded in the Bristol Channel since the start of the 20th century.[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VBJ-4894SJT-4V/2/3d135aea22b108843b09741dbba9350a Storm surge prediction in the Bristol Channel--the floods of 13 December 1981] R. Proctor, R.A. Flather, Continental Shelf Research, Volume 9, Issue 10, October 1989, Pages 889-918, ISSN 0278-4343, {{doi|10.1016/0278-4343(89)90064-2}}, accessed 2011-03-25 Water from melting snow, caused by milder weather accompanying the depression, added to the flooding. The maximum surge at Hinkley Point was measured at {{convert|1.3|m}} above the {{convert|7.4|m}} tidal level Ordnance Datum (OD) at 2025 hours, and {{convert|1.3|m}} measured at Avonmouth. The wind was measured at {{convert|40|knots}} from the west. Over topping of the sea defences along a {{convert|7|mi}} stretch of the North Somerset coast at 22 locations from Clevedon to Porlock began after 19:30, and continued until about 21:30 when the wind speed had reached {{convert|50|knots}} from the west. Although there was no loss of life, the resultant flooding covered {{convert|12500|acre}} of land, affecting 1072 houses and commercial properties, with £150,000 worth of livestock killed and £50,000 of feed and grain destroyed. Wessex Water Authority estimated the total cost of the damage caused at £6m, resulting in a three-year programme of sea defence assessment, repair and improvement.{{cite web|url=http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/gesw1206blpp-e-e.pdf|title=Somerset and the sea|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=5 December 2014}}[http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/1981-storm.shtml 1981 Storm in photos - December 13th 1981] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718095516/http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/1981-storm.shtml |date=18 July 2012 }} Burnham-On-Sea.com published 2006-12-13, accessed 2011-03-25

In France, the storm caused widespread flooding in the south west, causing considerable damage in the river basins of the Garonne and Adour and flooding the city of Bordeaux.[http://pluiesextremes.meteo.fr/1981-12-13/inondations-generalisees-sur-le-sud-ouest.html Inondations généralisées sur le Sud-Ouest] Météo-France, accessed 2011-03-25

The MV Bonita, an 8000 tonne Ecuadorian cargo ship sailing from Hamburg to Panama was caught in the storm in the English Channel. 29 were rescued from the ship, 4 by helicopter until the storm was too strong for the helicopter to operate. The remaining crew were rescued by the Guernsey lifeboat, however there were 2 fatalities.{{cite news|title=Guernsey lifeboat's 1981 rescue of Bonita crew remembered|work=BBC News|date=13 December 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-16141409|access-date=10 April 2012}}

Water entered the cooling water pump house of Hinkley Point nuclear power station, causing a shut-down for weeks after the storm.{{cite web|title=Storm event: 13TH DECEMBER 1981 Severe coastal floods in Somerset|url=http://www.surgewatch.org/events/5/|website=www.surgewatch.org|publisher=Surgewatch.org|access-date=23 May 2015}}