DORSET has been warned to brace itself for possible flooding later this year because of a rare phenomenon.

Last year, high tides caused flooding around the county, notably in Christchurch and Poole.

This year, there are fears more could be to come, as a once-in-19-years event occurs.

Council leader in Christchurch, Cllr Ray Nottage, has already moved to make residents aware in a bid to be prepared.

He said: “We want people to be aware of the situation and are keeping an eye on it so we are better advised than we were last year, which was a bit of a surprise.

“The residents’ associations in Christchurch have also done a great job in deciding where flood wardens are going to be. It’s a co-ordinated approach and we are monitoring it.”

Steve Woolard, an engineer at Christchurch Borough Council, explained the science behind the rare event.

He said: “Over the next six months we will be entering a period of unusually high astronomic tides – also known as ‘spring tides’ – due to a natural 19-year cycle when the sun, moon and earth align to exert a greater than normal gravitational pull creating ‘supertides’.

“Tides are also affected by the moon’s elliptical orbit.

“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.”