The 2 months between mid- December 2013 and mid-February 2014 saw the UK battered by at least 12 major storms, according to the Met Office. By ‘storms’, it means deep lowpressure weather systems. Records show that December 2013 was the stormiest since 1969. January 2014 was the wettest month since records began, and February had waves over 10 metres high, severe flood warnings and winds up to 228 km per hour.
Strong winds, high tides and storm surges acted in concert to hammer the British coastline with huge waves, making conditions extremely dangerous and causing widespread transport disruption, particularly in the south and west of the UK. The most severe storm was on 12 February, when the Kinsale Energy gas platform off southern Ireland recorded a maximum wave height of 25 m and winds reached hurricane force.
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