This Sunday could see the country experience some of the biggest spring tides that have been seen in Britain for decades. The tides will be caused by a supermoon that will be seen on Thursday night but it is expected that the highest waters will arrive at the end of the weekend.
In the West Country, police have warned people to remain aware of North Devon tide times and take sensible safety precautions on Sunday amid fears that the area will see the highest tides experienced for 19 years. The police warning was placed on the Facebook social networking site, calling for vigilance between March 20 and March 23.
Talking of Ilfracombe tide times, a local police spokesman said the highest tide would hit the area just after 7am and reach 10.2 metres. He called on people living in low-lying parts of the county to prepare for potential flooding by filling sandbags available from the local council.
He also urged people planning on watching the high seas to be sensible and careful. He said that it was vital that people only viewed the conditions from a reasonable and safe distance, especially if the weather turned stormy. He added that the sea’s power could not be underestimated and that there was a high risk of danger if people got too close, both from being washed away by waves and from being injured by flotsam and jetsam carried along in the water flow.
People across the country are being urged to be vigilant and take necessary precautions if their homes or businesses are at risk of flood in the event of especially high tides. The Environment Agency’s Floodline can be contacted on 0845 988118 and the agency can provide immediate alerts of flood warnings that have been issued.
