Storm Ciaran triggers Severe Flood Warning and evacuation of over 900 people in Tenby

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has reported that Storm Ciaran, which brought very strong winds and heavy rain to Wales from 31 October to 1 November 2023, led to a Severe Flood Warning for the River Ritec in Tenby after the river reached record levels¹. In its flood risk management annual report for 2023 to 2024, the body says its advice during the multi-agency response led to the evacuation of more than 900 people as flood waters inundated the Kiln Park Holiday site¹.

The report states that the catchment of the River Ritec was already saturated when the storm arrived soon after Storm Babet¹. Storm Babet, from 18 to 21 October 2023, triggered 46 flood warnings of varying levels in a 48-hour period and led to the flooding of approximately 160 properties in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and Powys, with a severe flood warning issued for Llandrinio, Powys where the Severn and Vyrnwy rivers meet¹.

The same stretch at Tenby flooded again during Storm Henk on 2 January 2024, when the Kiln Park caravan park was flooded for the second time that winter and a severe flood warning was in place¹. Across Wales during Storm Henk, NRW issued 30 Flood Warnings and 40 Flood Alerts¹. At the peak of Storm Isha on 21 to 22 January 2024, 6 Flood Warnings and 36 Flood Alerts were issued¹.

The report gives the following figures for the year from April 2023 to March 2024¹:

The report describes October 2023 to March 2024 as the second wettest winter ever in the UK, according to the Met Office, and cites Met Office analysis that there was 20% more rainfall, and that rainfall was 15% more intense, due to climate change¹. It also records that more flood alerts were issued during 2023/24 than in any of the previous three years¹.

Why it matters for households

The report sets out the scale of flood exposure in Wales: about 1 in 7 properties are estimated to be at risk, and the undefended figure stood at 340,046 as of April 2024¹. It records that defences benefited 102,000 properties across Wales during the year and prevented flooding in many areas during Storm Henk, while several rivers reached flood warning levels and many watercourses were out of bank¹. For households in Tenby and the surrounding area, the report confirms that the same site flooded twice in one winter, in November 2023 and January 2024¹. NRW describes its warning service as operating 24 hours a day, every day of the year, tracking forecasts, issuing warnings and posting up-to-date information on its website¹. The report does not give household-level advice for residents in the affected areas.

What happens next

NRW reports that it made significant progress on a new and updated Flood Warning Service, which it says will enter operation in the summer¹. It published its updated Flood Risk Management Plan in November 2023, setting out priorities for managing flood risk over the next six years¹. In January 2024 it published a report on the level of investment required in flood defences to manage Wales' future flood risk from rivers and the sea¹. The report also records that NRW secured an additional £7m in October 2023, and that a further phase of work will begin during May 2024¹.

Households can check current warnings for their area through the Flood Alerts, Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings guide, and for Wales specifically through Natural Resources Wales warnings and risk maps. The checklist for when a flood warning is issued covers preparations, and the flooding hub links to material on flood defences and alleviation schemes, flood doors and windows and home insurance in a flood risk area and Flood Re.