WATCH: Water floods over sea walls at high tide as strong winds batter coastline

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Among the spots baring the brunt of the onslaught was the village of Walcott, which was on a flood alert this morning (Tuesday, December 8).

However, the high water thankfully passed without causing property damage, with flood wardens thanking newly installed drains for stifling the impact.

Pauline Porter, chairman of Walcott Parish Council, said: 'No damage was done to any properties. Waves were sloping over the wall, coming over onto the road, that's why the road's closed.

'New drains were installed a couple of months ago and they're working very well.'

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

North Norfolk District Council's resilience manager, Allison Sayer, said : 'Previously water used to come over the sea wall and run down into properties and creating a whirlpool around the drains. It's called ponding. But this time, the drains have stopped that from happening.'

Garry Stanton, who was on the scene, said on Twitter: 'Occasional waves are bouncing over the wall here at Walcott and with increased frequency as the tide rises.'

Unusual weather system causing 'surging'

Environment Agency coastal team leader David Kemp said: 'We've had this depression that has gone across from Scotland to Scandinavia. This has pushed a lot of water from the Atlantic down into the North Sea, which is effectively a funnel that gets narrower and narrower. This is why we have seen surging at places including Walcott.'

Mr Kemp said the impact of the weather was moving south around the coast to Great Yarmouth and Southwold.

'The water will die away'

Mr Kemp said this evening's high tide, due at around 8pm, would not be as severe as this morning's.

He said: 'The water will die away. It takes a while for the North Sea to settle down, but it won't be anything like the levels that we've seen this morning.'

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Mr Kemp said the Environment Agency's focus was now shifting to monitoring the situation in the Broads system including the rivers Yare and Wensum, which have been inundated with high volumes of seawater.

He said properties at spots including Brundall, Cantley and Reedham were vulnerable to flooding throughout the day.

Mr Kemp said: 'Once that water gets into the Broadland system, it's going to hang around for 24 hours or so.'

Meanwhile, Meteorologist Dan Holley said according to data from the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility, tidal elevations at Cromer were about 1.5 metres higher than normal levels.'

High tide at Wells on the morning of January 8, 2018. Picture: ROBERT SMITH (Image: Archant)

Robert Smith, harbour master at Wells, said on Twitter: 'Surge tide and fresh Westerly wind this morning at #Portofwells, waiting now to see what the next twelve hours brings as strongly Northerly wind predicted later. High water 20.00.'

Forecasters had warned throughout Monday that parts of the region could be hit by 'localised flooding' on Tuesday, January 8 and the EA's East Anglian incident team monitored tidal forecasts for the east coast closely throughout the weekend.

Flood warnings across Norfolk and Suffolk (updated 08/01 at 9.30am)

-The Norfolk coast from Bacton to Ostend, including Walcott

The morning high tide at Walcott, Norfolk, on January 8, 2018. Picture: DAVID BALE (Image: Archant)

-The Suffolk coast at Southwold

-Bawdsey Quay and Felixstowe Ferry

-Isolated riverside properties on the tidal River Deben estuary

Flood alerts have also been issued in the following areas:

-The Norfolk coast from Bacton to Ostend, including Walcott

-The Norfolk coast from Caister to Gorleston, including Great Yarmouth

-The Norfolk coast from Eccles on Sea, to and including, Winterton-on-Sea

-The Suffolk and Essex coast from Felixstowe to Clacton including Orwell and Stour estuaries

-The Suffolk coast at Southwold

-The Suffolk coast from Lowestoft to Bawdsey

-The tidal Deben estuary

-The tidal Rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne

-The tidal River Waveney from Ellingham to Breydon Water

-The tidal River Yare from Thorpe St Andrew to Breydon Water

The morning high tide at Walcott, Norfolk, on January 8, 2018. Picture: DAVID BALE (Image: Archant)

The morning high tide at Walcott, Norfolk, on January 8, 2018. Picture: DAVID BALE (Image: Archant)

High tide at Sheringham Promenade on the morning of January 8, 2018. Picture: JO JOHNS (Image: Archant)

The morning high tide at Walcott, Norfolk, on January 8, 2018. Picture: DAVID BALE (Image: Archant)

High tide at Wells on the morning of January 8, 2018. Picture: ROBERT SMITH (Image: Archant)

High tide at Sheringham Promenade on the morning of January 8, 2018. Picture: JO JOHNS (Image: Archant)

High tide at Wells on the morning of January 8, 2018. Picture: ROBERT SMITH (Image: Archant)

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Waves at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Flooding at Walcott, North Norfolk. PICTURE: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)