A Perfect Storm? The collapse of Lancaster’s critical infrastructure networks following intense rainfall on 4th/5th in December 2015

Emma Sakamoto Ferranti; Lee Chapman; Duncan Whyatt

doi:10.1002/wea.2907

A Perfect Storm? The collapse of Lancaster’s critical infrastructure networks following intense rainfall on 4th/5th in December 2015

Emma Sakamoto Ferranti, Lee Chapman, Duncan Whyatt

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Abstract

On 4/5 December 2015 a slow moving frontal system associated with the extratropical cyclone Storm Desmond brought record-breaking levels of rainfall to Lancaster. Both high ground and low-lying areas were already saturated following the wettest November on record, and on the evening of 5 December the River Lune flooded into the city. Critical road and rail transport networks ground to a halt, and the city and the surrounding areas were left without mains power for 2 days after a key substation flooded, consequently leaving the majority of communication services inoperable. Was this a ‘Perfect Storm’, or a glimpse of what the future may hold for our cities as they face more frequent extreme weather events, set against the backdrop of urban population growth, and increasingly interdependent critical urban infrastructure systems?

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3-7
Journal	Weather
Volume	72
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.2907
Publication status	Published - 6 Jan 2017

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This is the pre-print version of the above article accepted for publication in Weather
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Checked for eligibility: 08/11/2016. "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ferranti, E., Chapman, L. and Whyatt, D. (2017), A Perfect Storm? The collapse of Lancaster's critical infrastructure networks following intense rainfall on 4/5 December 2015. Weather, 72: 3–7, which has been published in final form at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wea.2907. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."
Accepted author manuscript, 1.01 MBLicence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

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title = "A Perfect Storm? The collapse of Lancaster{\textquoteright}s critical infrastructure networks following intense rainfall on 4th/5th in December 2015",

abstract = "On 4/5 December 2015 a slow moving frontal system associated with the extratropical cyclone Storm Desmond brought record-breaking levels of rainfall to Lancaster. Both high ground and low-lying areas were already saturated following the wettest November on record, and on the evening of 5 December the River Lune flooded into the city. Critical road and rail transport networks ground to a halt, and the city and the surrounding areas were left without mains power for 2 days after a key substation flooded, consequently leaving the majority of communication services inoperable. Was this a {\textquoteleft}Perfect Storm{\textquoteright}, or a glimpse of what the future may hold for our cities as they face more frequent extreme weather events, set against the backdrop of urban population growth, and increasingly interdependent critical urban infrastructure systems?",

author = "{Sakamoto Ferranti}, Emma and Lee Chapman and Duncan Whyatt",

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N2 - On 4/5 December 2015 a slow moving frontal system associated with the extratropical cyclone Storm Desmond brought record-breaking levels of rainfall to Lancaster. Both high ground and low-lying areas were already saturated following the wettest November on record, and on the evening of 5 December the River Lune flooded into the city. Critical road and rail transport networks ground to a halt, and the city and the surrounding areas were left without mains power for 2 days after a key substation flooded, consequently leaving the majority of communication services inoperable. Was this a ‘Perfect Storm’, or a glimpse of what the future may hold for our cities as they face more frequent extreme weather events, set against the backdrop of urban population growth, and increasingly interdependent critical urban infrastructure systems?

AB - On 4/5 December 2015 a slow moving frontal system associated with the extratropical cyclone Storm Desmond brought record-breaking levels of rainfall to Lancaster. Both high ground and low-lying areas were already saturated following the wettest November on record, and on the evening of 5 December the River Lune flooded into the city. Critical road and rail transport networks ground to a halt, and the city and the surrounding areas were left without mains power for 2 days after a key substation flooded, consequently leaving the majority of communication services inoperable. Was this a ‘Perfect Storm’, or a glimpse of what the future may hold for our cities as they face more frequent extreme weather events, set against the backdrop of urban population growth, and increasingly interdependent critical urban infrastructure systems?

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A Perfect Storm? The collapse of Lancaster’s critical infrastructure networks following intense rainfall on 4th/5th in December 2015

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