Lincolnshire Cloudburst Disaster

[Weather-history]

On the 29th of May 1920, severe thunderstorms broke out over parts of northern England. One such storm produced a cloudburst over the Lincolnshire Wolds, close to 120mm fell in 3 hours. Huge torrents of water poured into local streams and rivers including the river Ludd which flows through the market town of Louth. A flash flood devastated the town, destroying everything in its path including businesses, homes etc. 23 people were killed in the tragedy.

Here is the 31st of May 1920 edition of the Times

Found a photo showing a marker on how high the flood got to in 1920

Storms also affected other parts

Times editorial on the disaster

[mcweather]

Another great piece there Mr D. This is one of those that often gets left out by the various natural disaster programmes that appear on TV these days but is almost on a par with Lynmouth for the death and destruction that it wrought.

[Weather-history]

90 years ago today

[4wd]

As usual I can't help thinking how if it happened now, the whole thing would be blamed on global warming.

There have always been extreme weather events from time to time and these occasional threads highlight that very well.

[Weather-history]

100 years ago

Only 1.42 inches of rain was recorded in Louth itself but 3 miles to the west, 4.59 inches of rain fell in 3 hours at Elkington Hall. 2 miles to the south at Hallington, 4.10 inches fell in 2 hours.

A witness at Benniworth, 12 miles WSW of Louth said that rain poured so fast at 2.30pm GMT that house pipes could not carry it and in a moment fields were at least 8 inches deep. the same wtiness saw a huge cloud in the shape of an egg which kept twisting round. 3 flashes of lightning, very vivid and lightning and the cloud seemed to come earthward.

From the Times of 31st May 1920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Metwatch]

Wow that's extreme. flash flooding on another level. The egg shaped bit is rather strange. Definintly on my bucket list to witness this.

[Badgers01]

2 hours ago, Jacky said:

Wow that's extreme. flash flooding on another level. The egg shaped bit is rather strange. Definintly on my bucket list to witness this.

sounds like a tornado ..?

[A Face like Thunder]

100 years ago today, as noted by Paul Simons in 'Weather Eye' in today's Times. I would imagine there might be a commemoration in the town, although of necessity low key. A sad example of Nature at work, RIP. 

[Metwatch]

11 hours ago, Badgers01 said:

sounds like a tornado ..?

Could be but not sure. Reports usually needs questioning about degree of accuracy this far back

[Jamie M]

On 29/05/2020 at 10:46, Jacky said:

Could be but not sure. Reports usually needs questioning about degree of accuracy this far back

Sounds more like a severe microburst with extreme rainfall after in my opinion.

Egg shape twisting could easily be this which is the start of a microburst before it finally collapses onto land.