On October 29, 2013, Flood Protection Barrier of Saint-Petersburg performed its principal duty having prevented yet another flood, FPB Directorate announced. The bad weather was caused by the St Jude, a severe windstorm that hit Northwestern Europe. All navigation structures and water sluices of FPB were closed from 9:00 till 18:24 (Moscow time).
The peak of the flood from the Gulf of Finland was registered at 15:45. At sluice В-5 it was +2.16 m, at navigation structure С-1 it was +1.96. The wind speed at FPB was 32 m/s.
Experts say, water level in Saint-Petersburg could rise by 2.6 m. In this case, the flood hazard area includes over 6,700 buildings of different purposes, Konstantin Palace, Summer Garden, Hermitage basement, Peter and Paul Fortress, Sea Port, Admiralty Shipyards, Kirov Works, 6 metro stations.
The flood could damage heat and power supply systems of the city.
The Flood Protection Barrier of Saint-Petersburg prevented it. Economists have calculated the losses averted at RUB 19.2 bln.
Last time the threat of flood was averted in 2011. In November and December, FPB prevented three floods in November and December with total possible damage of over RUB 26 bln.
The St Jude storm, also known as Carmen or Cyclone Christian, was a severe European windstorm that hit Northwestern Europe on 27 and 28 October 2013.
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