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Britain is enduring its wettest winter in 130 years as large parts of the country are submerged in water. More than 300 flood warnings have been issued in the aftermath of Storm Henk, as more than 1,000 properties have been flooded and rivers across the country burst their banks.
Since September, eight storms have been named, which is the most in a single season designated by the Met Office. Additionally, the time frame between July and December of the previous year had the highest level of rainfall on record since 1890.
According to Professor Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist from the University of Reading, the recent storms have transformed the country into a soaked sponge.
Henk’s storm caused heavy rainfall in England and Wales, with many areas receiving over 40mm of rain in a span of 24 hours on Tuesday, as reported by the Met Office. This is nearly half of the average monthly rainfall.
An inundated plot of land in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
The Environment Agency’s data indicates that nearly all rivers in England are experiencing exceptionally high levels, with certain ones reaching their peak flow ever recorded. One example is the River Itchen in Southampton. According to Caroline Douglass, the agency’s flood director, the Trent river has been at its highest levels in the past 24 years.
The extensive flooding has resulted in significant harm, leading to extensive financial losses for farmers due to spoiled crops in water-soaked fields. Insurance companies are also facing a payout of £560 million as a result of Storms Babet, Ciaran, and Debi. These storms have already prompted close to 50,000 claims.
Out of these expenses, £352 million is projected to be allocated for affected residences, an additional £155 million for impacted businesses, and £53 million for harmed vehicles.
Due to the recent destruction caused by Storms Gerrit and Henk during the holiday season, insurance companies can expect to receive a significant number of claims for flooded properties. The average payout for these claims is currently estimated at £36,000.
Experts warn that the rise in extreme weather will mean home owners could face a surge in renewal premiums, with fewer policies available for those living in coastal areas.
The NFU has requested compensation and urged the government to implement adjustments to flood defenses and establish assistance programs in order to enhance the safeguarding of rural enterprises.
Peter Gadd, a farmer from Nottinghamshire and the chairman of the NFU’s crops board in the East Midlands, reported that Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran struck just 10 days after he had planted a crop of wheat and barley. Unfortunately, 40% of the crop was lost due to heavy rainfall before it could even sprout.
He estimates that he has incurred a loss of approximately £14,000 to £15,000 due to the current floods. However, he can only determine the exact amount once the water has receded. Unfortunately, he will not receive any reimbursement or insurance coverage for this.
He stated that they need to assess what can be salvaged in the spring. However, a large portion of the planted crops and those that were not harvested and are now submerged will be impossible to recover.
A property in Cupar, Fife, that was flooded as a result of Storm Gerrit.
Although the Met Office predicts less rain over the weekend, the Environment Agency warns that the effects of the already soaked ground may persist for the next five days.
According to senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst, the recent rainfall in certain areas of the country has been significantly higher than usual. This trend of wetter winters is predicted to continue due to the impact of global warming.
The River Trent’s rising levels prompted Nottinghamshire County Council to declare a major incident on Thursday. As a result, residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, a community of stationary caravans for individuals over the age of 55, were required to evacuate.
Firefighters in east London successfully rescued an additional 50 individuals in Hackney Wick after a canal overflowed, and a party boat also sank in the nearby River Thames.
Certain areas of England, such as Gloucestershire, experienced flooding caused by precipitation ranging from 20mm to 30mm in various southern counties. Tragically, a few cows drowned in the village of Sawley in Derbyshire.
Commuters on train routes operated by South Western Railway and Great Western Railway were heavily impacted by delays caused by flooding and a major incident in Reading.
According to Martin Lucass, an environmental consultant at Geosmart, climate change will likely lead to more severe flooding in the future due to erratic and intense rainfall patterns.
A boat that was used for parties capsized in the River Thames.
According to the speaker, there are four categories of flooding: ground water, tidal, river (which is commonly observed in the UK), and surface flooding (which is becoming more prevalent due to heavy rainfall and can result in rapid property damage). This is the primary impact of climate change seen in the UK.
According to their flood analysis tool, the most recent data indicates that 9 million homes in the UK are susceptible to flooding. It is estimated that the average yearly cost of damages is £1.5 billion.
During Storm Babet, thousands of homes and businesses were flooded, with the town of Brechin in Scotland severely affected after defences were overtopped by the river South Esk. Several rail services were cancelled while seven people were killed as a result of wind, rain and floods.
The Nottingham Radcliffe Residential Park.
The Labour party has accused the government of neglecting their responsibility in flood warnings and has urged Rishi Sunak to organize a taskforce, similar to Cobra, to safeguard homes from future harm.
The most recent numbers from the Association of British Insurers, as reported by The Independent, reveal that in 2023, the estimated cost of claims due to severe weather exceeded £1 billion for the third consecutive year.
According to Adam Holland, the Chief Product Officer of AXA UK, studies indicate that there is an increase in both frequency and severity of adverse weather events in the UK. This has consequently resulted in a higher number of insurance claims related to weather damage.
According to a study by AXA, 24% of individuals do not have home insurance at present, even though 38% of them reside in regions prone to flooding or severe weather.
“Severe weather in the UK can result in costly damage to one’s residence. In coastal areas, strong winds pose a specific threat as there may be little protection from natural barriers like trees. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared,” stated Mr. Holland.
AXA saw a rise in storm damage claims from £12.1m in 2016 to £17.8m in 2023.
On Friday afternoon, floods minister Robbie Moore addressed the media by the Trent River in Nottingham. He stated that the government has adequate funds for preventing floods. When asked about compensation for those impacted by the flooding, Mr. Moore stated that the government is actively considering measures to support them. Additionally, he mentioned that the funding for flood resilience plans has been increased from £2.6bn to £5.2bn.
On the morning of December 27th, Carol Watters experienced her property in Cupar being flooded for the fifth time due to the watercourse behind her garden. This has sparked concern for her insurance coverage in the future.
“We have insurance coverage, but if another flood occurs, what will happen to us? We have already experienced strong winds and heavy snow, and now we are facing more rain. Even before the flood last week, we were constantly vigilant during severe weather events.”
Carol Watters is photographed in her home in Cupar that has been affected by flooding.
Although we can acknowledge that the house has been damaged, if it floods again, it will further delay the insurance process. We have resided in this house for 24 years, and it is emotionally devastating.
According to Ceri McMillan, a home insurance expert at Go.Compare, some insurers may choose not to provide coverage for houses or areas located in flood-prone zones. This could result in a decrease in the number of available policies, even if premiums do not increase.
“Fewer individuals may choose to include them in their policies, resulting in a disadvantage as their competitive pricing decreases.”
The National Infrastructure Commission experts have cautioned that climate change is causing an increase in extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts.
The furniture workshop in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, called Kirk and Bill’s, was flooded.
Their director of policy, Margaret Read, also issued a warning that the number of properties at risk of flooding was likely to increase by more than a third should temperatures in the UK rise more than 2C.
The UK Health Security Agency has recently released a yellow cold weather alert for this upcoming weekend, as the Met Office predicts a cold front due to high pressure over the UK. Drivers are advised to be careful of icy conditions.
The UK Health Security Agency reported that a strong easterly wind will form in the southern region over the weekend, causing temperatures to feel significantly colder due to the added wind chill. Temperatures are expected to be slightly lower than usual across most of the UK, particularly at night, resulting in more frequent frosts compared to recent days.
According to Oli Claydon, a representative from the Met Office, the weather is becoming much drier. He also mentioned that for the first time in a while, there are no rain warnings currently in effect.
Source: independent.co.uk
