Winter rain was worst on record
The worst winter storms on record hit the Chichester area over Christmas in 2013 and the new year of 2014, causing widespread flooding, road closures and damage.
At one point on Friday, January 17, 2014, the A27 at Chichester was closed between Tangmere and the Portfield roundabout after heavy rain caused flooding and a number of other roads were affected, including the A29 at Bury Hill.
The onslaught of heavy rain throughout January 2014 caused a groundwater flood alert for West Dean, Singleton, Charlton, East Dean and Chilgrove. Flooding disrupted roads around Stoughton, Walderton and Westbourne, particularly the B2147 and the A286 between East Lavant and East Dean, and the B2146 between Hairs Lane and West Marden was also temporarily closed.
Some roads in Bosham were flooded, including Brooks Lane and Taylors Lane, and there was a flood alert in place for the River Lavant, with alerts for West Dean, Singleton, Charlton, East Dean and Chilgrove. The A286 was flooded both ways between The Drive, Chichester, and Chichester Road, Midhurst, after the River Lavant burst its banks on January 24, 2014. The Environment Agency said it was because high groundwater levels were keeping the level of the River Lavant high.
The River Rother also burst its banks, causing a catalogue of problems in Fittleworth, including the risk of flooding to homes from excess surface water on the recreation ground. At Pulborough Brooks, the winter floods were very dramatic, with two of the hides becoming inaccessible, and inevitably a significant clean-up operation was necessary once the floods receded.
Piles of pebbles were left on the storm-battered Bognor Regis seafront on January 9, 2014, after shingle from the beach was thrown on to the promenade by a week of strong gales and high tides. The maximum wind speed in the previous seven days averaged 52mph, measured by the town council’s weather observers, meaning some gusts were even stronger. The stormiest day saw a high tide of 6.3m at 12.22pm, accompanied by a gale force nine wind, sending spray across the promenade.