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2026 Storms Batter Torcross: Sea Breaches Barrier, Threatens Nature Reserve
12 Feb
Summary
- Four severe storms in January battered Torcross, causing widespread damage.
- A vital shingle defense was removed, leading to a breach of the sea barrier.
- The breach threatens Slapton Ley nature reserve and endangered strapwort.
In early 2026, the Devon village of Torcross has been severely impacted by a series of powerful storms. Four consecutive southerly storms in January first eroded the village's crucial shingle defenses. A subsequent storm then breached the sea barrier, causing significant damage to the A379 coastal road. This road, essential for the area, is expected to remain closed until 2027.
The damage extends beyond infrastructure, posing a serious ecological threat. The shingle ridge separates the sea from Slapton Ley, a vital freshwater National Nature Reserve. A breach risks contaminating the Ley's freshwater habitat, jeopardizing its unique species. This includes the strapwort, a plant whose only natural UK habitat is at Slapton Ley, making it critically endangered.
Experts attribute the increased vulnerability to shifting storm patterns and coastal erosion, with rising sea levels exacerbating the risk. Professor Gerd Masselink noted that recent decades have seen 50,000 cubic metres of shingle moved away from Torcross, leaving it more exposed to the sea's power.
