December 1, 2015 4.19 pm This story is over 99 months old

Vast parts of Lincolnshire could be lost to the sea, climate change group predicts

Flood risks: Large parts of Lincolnshire could be underwater by the end of the century, if sea levels continue to rise.
Photo: Climate Central

A climate change pressure group has predicted that large parts of Lincolnshire could be underwater by the end of the century if sea levels continue to rise.

Climate Central has produced maps showing what the county would look like if temperatures rose by the forecast of 2ºC by 2100.

flood3

Lincolnshire’s coastline would be radically different. Photo: Climate Central

Boston would be submerged, with east coast resorts affected by the fateful floods of 1953 such as Mablethorpe, Ingoldmells and Sutton on Sea being permanently lost to the sea.

Towns such as Holbeach and Spalding would be left underwater, with Bourne and Market Deeping potentially being transformed into Lincolnshire seaside holiday destinations.

The new coastline would stretch as far inland as Branston and Heighington at its furthest point, just a few miles from Lincoln.

Lincolnshire would not be the only area altered by the rising seas, with the maps warning that large parts of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex would also be consigned to the history books.

flood2

The sea would come inland almost as far as Lincoln. Photo: Climate Central

In analysing the maps, Climate Central said that global warming has raised sea level about 8 inches since 1880, and the rate of rise is accelerating.

The report said: “Rising seas dramatically increase the odds of damaging floods from storm surges. A Climate Central analysis finds the odds of “century” or worse floods occurring by 2030 are on track to double or more.

“Scientists expect roughly two to seven more feet of sea level rise this century — a lot depending upon how much more heat-trapping pollution humanity puts into the sky.”

Also read: How Lincoln would’ve been obliterated in the event of a nuclear strike during the Cold War