Effect of the passage of cyclone Andrea on the sea level in France (5-6/01/2012) Effect of the passage of cyclone Andrea on the sea level in France (5-6/01/2012)

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Effect of the passage of cyclone Andrea on the sea level in France (5-6/01/2012)

 

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 January 2012, cyclone Andrea caused strong gusts of wind over several coastal regions of France, passing southwards from the North of France. Through Thursday night and on until late Friday morning, the storm could be felt as far away as Corsica (source Météo-France).

 

The tide gauge observatories of the RONIM network recorded significant differences between the observed and predicted sea levels, i.e. positive surges. For the two days in question, the tidal coefficients were low, around 44 on 5 January and 53 on the 6th

During storms, the characteristic values of positive surges are determined at the times of high and low water. In the table below, the time and the maximum value of positive surges are indicated for guidance purposes.

 

The largest positive surges recorded by tide gauge stations (the times are expressed in UT and the heights in metres. The time step of the "raw" observations and of the positive/negative surges is 10 minutes except for the Solenzara observatory (1 minute))
Port Screen snapshots (observations and predictions Screen snapshots (positive / negative surges) Characteristics Informations source Météo France
North Sea and English Channel
Dunkirk Dunkerque observation prediction Dunkerque - surcote

During the 2 HW on the 5th, positive surges of around 1m were observed.

During the LW at 1545, a positive surge of around 1.5m was observed.

It was during the flow at 1720 that the maximum positive surge of around 2m was observed.

 At midday on the 5th, gusts of wind frequently topped 100 kpm North of the Seine
Calais Calais - observation - prediction Calais - surcote

During the 2 HW on the 5th, positive surges of around 0.5m and 1m respectively were observed.

During the LW at 1540, a positive surge of around 1.3m was observed.

It was during the flow at 1720 that the maximum positive surge of around 1.5m was observed.
Boulogne-sur-mer Boulogne-sur-mer - observation - prediction Boulogne-sur-mer - surcotes

During the 2 HW on the 5th, positive surges of around 0.5m and 0.7m respectively were observed.

During the LW at 1500, a positive surge of around 1m was observed.

It was during the flow at 1540 that the maximum positive surge of around 1.2m was observed.
Dieppe Dieppe - observation - prediction Dieppe - surcotes

During the 2 HW on the 5th, positive surges of around 0.4m and 0.6m respectively were observed.

During the LW at 1430, a positive surge of around 1.1m was observed.

It was during the ebb at 1100 that the maximum positive surge of around 1.2m was observed.
Cherbourg Cherbourg - observation - prediction Cherbourg - surcote

During the 2 HW on the 5th, positive surges of around 10-20cm were observed.

During the LW at 1140, a positive surge of around 0.5m was observed, value that also corresponds to the maximum positive surge measured during the LW stand.
Mediterranean
Nice Nice - observation - prediction Nice - surcotes Cyclone Andrea does not appear to have affected the sea level at Nice. A positive surge and a maximum negative surge of around 10cm were observed. Speeds exceeding 100 kph in Corsica
Aspretto Ajaccio - aspretto - observation - prediction Ajaccio - Aspretto - surcote Cyclone Andrea does not appear to have affected the sea level at Ajaccio-Aspretto. A maximum negative surge of around 20cm was observed.
Centuri Le Conquet - observation - prediction Centuri - surcote A maximum positive surge of around 70cm was observed at Centuri during the ebb at around 2100.
Solenzara (observations et calcul des surcotes / décotes : pas de temps = 1minute) Solenzara - observation - prediction Solenzara - surcote A maximum positive surge period at around 2000 of around 30cm was observed at Solenzara.