Cyclones Anne and Christina

Cyclone Anne

Cyclone Anne on 3 January 2014
Type	Extratropical cyclone, Winter storm
Formed	January 1, 2014
Dissipated	January 6, 2014
Lowest pressure	945 mb (27.9 inHg)
Damage	€75 million
Areas affected	Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Spain, Portugal

Cyclone Christina

Christina over the Atlantic on 5 January 2014
Type	Extratropical cyclone, Winter storm
Formed	January 3, 2014
Dissipated	January 10, 2014
Lowest pressure	934 mb (27.6 inHg)
Damage	€375 million
Areas affected	Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Spain, Portugal, Morocco

Anne and Christina were two winter storms that affected western Europe in early January 2014. The storms brought storm surges along the coasts of France, Ireland and the United Kingdom on high spring tides a month after Cyclone Xaver brought surges during the previous peak tides to northern Europe.

The low pressure was named Anne by the Free University of Berlin on 1 January. Some media referred to Anne as the "Moon Storm".

The Anne storm was deepened by the powerful jet stream, one of a series of lows which deepened below 950hPa (for every 1hPa drop in atmospheric pressure, sea level goes up by 1 cm) which is capable of adding over half a meter to sea levels. The storm coincided with high spring tides, and high discharge levels in rivers and estuaries. The long fetch of winds over the western Atlantic pushed water against the coasts, and helped to develop some significant wave heights, especially where the coastal morphology acts to funnel the waves.

Meteo France issued an orange alert in Brittany for the departments of Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine, the warning level was raised to red for the department of Finistère. The Jersey Met Office gave out a red alert, their highest level of warning.

In the UK the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the country was facing "exceptional weather" after chairing a Cobra meeting on 2 January.Cork City Council warned of coastal flood threat in low-lying areas of the city.

The Isle of Man Government issued a red warning (the highest) for Friday 3 January, advising that water levels were expected to be 800mm above harbour walls. Water heights were expected to be higher than a surge event in 2002, which caused 8 million pounds of damage on the island. They warned islanders of the danger posed by contaminated water and open manhole covers, and announced the closure of vulnerable roads around the island.