RESIDENTS have been warned that unusually-high tides are likely to continue until Monday after flooding.

Christchurch and Poole were put on alert earlier today as high water caused coastal flooding.

Huge waves overtopped the quay wall at Mudeford, flooding the car park, while at Christchurch parts of the quay and footpath were also under water.

The Environment Agency issued flood alerts for high tide between 10am and 10.30am at both Poole and Christchurch.

They remained in place for two hours before and after those times.

The Environment Agency said it was likely the high tides would continue until Monday.

Paul Gainey, from the Environment Agency, added: “It’s important to realise that just because we are expecting big astronomical tides over the next few days, these won’t cause the highest sea levels we’ve seen – even in the last few years.

“That’s because the weather can have a much bigger impact on sea level than the 18-year tidal cycle.”

He added that weather wasn’t predicted to play a large part in water levels in the next few days, although strong winds on Monday were likely to generate some large waves and push up sea levels.

It comes just days after Dorset was warned about the rare phenomenon of ‘supertides’.

The once-in-19-years event is due to take place in April, with Christchurch council already sending out warnings to residents.

Steve Woolard, an engineer at Christchurch Borough Council, said the “unusually high astronomic tides” – known as spring tides – will take place over the next six months.

They are caused by a natural 19-year cycle when the sun, moon and earth align to exert a greater than normal gravitational pull which creates ‘supertides’.

He added: “The increase in the size and number of high natural tides through this period means that there is a small, but elevated, increase in the risk of coastal flooding.

“However high astronomic tides alone do not cause a significant coastal flood risk. Significant coastal flooding along the south coast is dependent on the combined effects of high natural tides and weather-generated tidal surge and wave conditions.

“This year we will be subjected to a number of supertides, the next being between April 19 and 22 and the last one at the end of September, which will bring an end to the 19-year cycle.”