Major Local Weather Events - PDF Files
Graham’s Weather Pages
The 10th of March saw one of the largest Spring Tides of 2008. This was combined with very low atmospheric pressure (around 960mb) and a severe gale (SSW early, becoming WNW by afternoon). These conditions combined to generate a very big sea, the swell exceeded 35’ at Sevenstones off Land’s End, and an actual tide which exceeded predicted levels by > 1 metre.
There was some damage done by the wind, but the gusts were not that exceptional, typical of a severe winter gale. Maximum gusts in west Cornwall generally in the range 70-85mph. However the size of the swell, combined with the exceptionally high sea level, created some spectacular and dangerous conditions along the coast, together with some flooding along various parts of the north Cornwall coast.
There was some damage done by the wind, but the gusts were not that exceptional, typical of a severe winter gale. Maximum gusts in west Cornwall generally in the range 70-
Some superb pictures of conditions at Sennen Cove near Land’s End - Sennen Storm
Sennen Bodyboarding
March 10th 2008
Severe Gales, Huge Seas, Spring Tide & Storm surge
Severe Gales, Huge Seas, Spring Tide & Storm surge
Penzance Prom
Sennen Harbour
Major Local Weather Events
Pictures from Sennen during the huge 35’ to 40’ swell of 8th February 2016
Pictures from Sennen during Storm Eunice on 18th February 2022, which ripped off the lifeboat house roof
The storms fast movement, and the fact it reached maximum intensity over the UK not over the Atlantic, meant the swell
Photo Andrew Carne, The Old Boathouse Stores Sennen Photo - James Loveridge Photography
height was not exceptional. The peak significant wave height at Sevenstones off Lands End was 8 metres. 11 metres has a
5 year return period. The swell might have been unexceptional, but the wind was damaging. Peak gusts were 82mph at Lands End,
93mph at Tol Pedn on Gwennap Head.