By Charlotte Jacob, Co‑Founder, The National Seaweed Company
Over the last few months and years, Britain’s coastal communities have faced an unprecedented series of storms that are reshaping both our landscapes and our understanding of what it means to live by the sea.
From Devon’s battered edges to fast‑eroding cliffs on the east coast and chaotic marine strandings in Wales, the effects are wide‑ranging; ecological, social, and deeply human.
So the question is; Storm After Storm: Is This The New Normal?
In recent months, storms such as Goretti, Ingrid and Chandra have struck the South West, bringing intense rainfall, flooding, and powerful wave action. In early February 2026, these storms destroyed a section of the A379 coastal road between Torcross and Slapton, washing away sea defences and severing a vital community link in a matter of hours. While Britain’s coastlines have always faced winter storms, the frequency and ferocity of these events is increasing, leaving communities and ecosystems under unprecedented pressure. Rising sea levels and warmer oceans are fueling stronger surges and heavier rainfall, amplifying the risk to homes, businesses, and natural habitats across the country.
Nature in the Crosshairs: Marine Life & Ecosystems
It goes without saying, storms don’t just affect roads and towns; our marine ecosystems are also being reshaped too.
Along the Welsh coast after Storm Claudia, thousands of jellyfish were found washed up on beaches, so many that sky‑high stranding numbers were described as a “mass graveyard” for these creatures.
Such strandings often follow extreme weather and shifting currents, which can displace animals from their normal habitats or cause physical stress and mortality, but while jellyfish strandings have natural seasonal patterns, the scale seen after these storms points to how climate‑driven storm intensity can disrupt life cycles and local food webs - including for species like turtles that follow jellyfish blooms.
Storms also stir coastal waters, resuspending sediments and changing salinity, temperature, and oxygen levels these are impacts which ripple through the marine food chain. Long‑term climate research warns us that more intense storm activity is linked with greater damage to coastal ecosystems around the world.
The Human Toll: Communities Under Strain
Coastal life in the UK isn’t just scenic; it’s a way of life for many, myself included. Storms bring flood warnings, evacuation alerts, damaged homes, and disrupted services, placing stress on families, small businesses, and local economies.
The emotional and financial cost of coastal flooding and erosion is profound. In some communities, residents watch as the ground literally vanishes beneath their feet. Homes once a short walk from the sea now perched perilously close to collapsing cliffs.
Traditional industries such as fishing, tourism, and shellfish harvesting are feeling the strain too. Saltwater intrusions, altered currents and physical habitat loss affect populations of fish, crustaceans, shellfish and seabirds — pushing delicate balances further away from resilience.
The Bigger Picture: Climate & Coastal Change
While no single storm can be solely attributed to climate change, many scientists agree that higher ocean temperatures and rising sea levels fuel stronger storm surges, heavier rainfall and more destructive wave action.
The rise in sea level amplifies flooding when storms hit, meaning impacts that once occurred perhaps once in a generation are now happening with unsettling frequency. Increased ocean heat is a key driver of extreme weather and stresses marine species and habitats which are already struggling with pollution and habitat loss.
So How Do We Go From Devastation to Action
The toll on coastlines, ecosystems and people is significant. Yet these moments also reveal where resilience is needed most. For communities, this could mean strengthening natural buffers like salt marshes and seagrass beds - ecosystems which can absorb wave energy and provide critical habitat for marine life. For businesses, scientists and policymakers, it means working together on solutions that support both human and ecological health.
At both The National Seaweed Company and our sister company; The Devon Seaweed Company, we are inspired every day by the power of nature and reminded of our responsibility to protect it. As storms reshape Britain’s shores, let’s ensure that the stories we share reflect not only the challenges we face, but also the urgency of stewardship and innovation.
