As the strong wind passed over the North Sea , a storm surge was recorded all along the east coast of the United Kingdom on 3 January , advancing from the northern North Sea , water levels in the north of England rose higher than those of the North Sea flood of 1953 , although they were lower in the south . The storm surge was far more severe on the north German coast reaching levels never previously recorded , reaching 6.45 m above mean sea level at Hamburg ( 4.5 m above mean high water levels ) . Fortunately dykes had been raised after the devastating North Sea flood of 1962 which was 0.85 m lower
North Sea flood of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
Gale of January 1976