Lessons from cases of coastal risks governance in the United Kingdom

This chapter examines two extreme windstorms that have had a profound influence on the severe weather warning services provided to people in the United Kingdom. It exemplifies the two extreme impacts of windstorms to a country surrounded by sea: destruction by direct impact of the extreme winds on buildings, trees, and infrastructure; and destruction through the generation of a storm surge that floods coastal towns and infrastructure. The first to occur was the storm surge, on 31 January 1953, which resulted in the creation of a storm surge warning service. The second was the land storm on 16 October 1987 that has led to the current National Severe Weather Warnings service. Within science, efforts to improve prediction of both the weather and its impacts, continue to bring success, particularly in refining areas at highest risk. Current initiatives in closer coupling of ocean, land, and atmosphere may resolve some of the uncertainties in surge prediction.