Flood warnings as 'supertides' affect Welsh coastlines

Natural Resources Wales have urged those living in and travelling around coastal areas to take care due to the high spring tides affecting parts of Wales this weekend.

Unsettled weather today may cause a storm surge leading to flooding in some localised areas. High waves and higher water is expected.

However, despite an increased risk today, the tide is expected to fall off and decline from later today and into tomorrow.

Parts of Wales have seen roads closed and warnings issued after high spring tides.

With some calling it a 'super-tide', the biggest for quarter of a century, one of the places to see water levels rise was Tintern in Monmouthshire.

It's an area familiar with flooding, but some residents and locals are still surprised by the height of the tide this weekend.

Flood warnings have been issued for several coastal areas across Wales as high tides affect parts of the country

Monmouthshire County Council is closing the A466 at Tintern on a temporary basis over the weekend, as the high tides are expected to affect the River Wye.

The road is likely to be closed for around 20 minutes before and after each tide reaches its morning and evening peaks.

Council officers will be working over the weekend to deal with any issues arising from forecast rain and high tides. The council's website and Twitter feed will be kept up to date on closure times

Natural Resources Wales will monitor the situation and will be responsible for issuing the flood warnings.

Weather experts are warning that so-called 'supertides' are set to batter the Welsh coastline in the coming days.

But what is causing these extremely high tides? Professor David Bowers, from the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University, explains:

This flood warning map by Natural Resources Wales shows the current flood warnings and alerts in place for Wales.

There are currently three flood warnings and six flood alerts in place.

Flood warnings:

• Wye Estuary at Chepstow
• Wye Estuary near Tintern
• Tidal area at Crofty

Flood alerts:

• Coast from Aberthaw to Severn Bridge
• Usk Estuary
• Wye Estuary in Monmouthshire
• Areas along the North West Wales coastline from the Menai Straits to Aberdyfi
• Carmarthenshire coast between Pendine and Hendy, east of Llanelli
• North Gower Coast at Crofty

Experts say Penarth pier could see some of the highest waves in the world on Sunday due to global 'supertides'.

Giant 50ft waves are reported to be on course to hit the Welsh coastline in the coming days.

Read: Flooding in Caerleon as River Usk breaches banks

Monmouthshire Council has confirmed the A466 through Tintern could close for short periods this weekend due to forecasted high tides.

The road will only close in the event of a breach and will reopen as soon as the water has receded from the highway.

The closure points will be:

• North End closure: Trelleck Road junction
• South End closure: Royal George junction

Potential closure times are as follows:

• Friday 20th February: 8:25am to 9:05am
• Friday 20th February: 8:50pm to 9:30pm
• Saturday 21st February: 9:10am to 9:50am
• Saturday 21st February: 9:35pm to 10:15pm
• Sunday 22nd February: 9:55am to 10:30am

For more information, visit www.monmouthshire.gov.uk

Read: Flood warnings as 'supertides' set to batter UK coastline

Monmouthshire Council says the A466, which runs close to the River Wye at Tintern, is set be closed today, tomorrow and Sunday during high tide.

Elsewhere the main road in and out of Newgale in Pembrokeshire has been closed because of a high tide which has breached sea defences.