Coastal flooding

The force of the sea has shaped our coastline into what it is today. Scotland has over 13000km of coastline, which includes cliffs, dunes, sea lochs and rocky shorelines. Over the years, coastal settlements have developed around our ports and harbours to support industries such as fishing, agriculture, oil and gas.

Low-lying communities within our estuaries and along our coastline are particularly vulnerable to flooding from the sea. SEPA currently estimates that there are around 26,000 homes and businesses at risk from coastal flooding in Scotland.

Current predictions for climate change anticipate an increase in sea levels, storm surges and waves all around Scotland’s coastline; however, this will affect some regions more than others.  The number of properties at risk is predicted to increase, as well as the frequency and severity of flooding in our coastal communities.

Flood alerts for coastal flooding are issued based on the information that we receive from the Met Office and the UK Coastal Monitoring and Forecasting Service (UKCMF). A model is used to forecast sea levels around the coast based on predicted tides and weather conditions. When the predicted sea levels suggest a risk of flooding, flood alerts are issued. This indicates that localised flooding may occur within the next 12 to 24 hours (one or two tidal cycles).

The flood warning scheme on the Firth of Clyde combines tidal information, sea level data acquired from monitoring stations and computer modelling of predicted scenarios. This is used to assess the likelihood of flooding in communities covered by the scheme.