Two million people in England unaware their properties are at risk of flooding — SkimNews
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- Environment Agency director Caroline Douglass said one-third of the six million English properties at flood risk are occupied by people unaware of the threat, urging residents to check gov.uk, sign up for warnings, and prepare a flood plan.
- Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said its three-month outlook shows an increased likelihood that October, November, and December will be wetter, windier, and milder than normal.
- Lang attributed the heightened flood potential partly to a "subtle" El Niño shift — one of several factors — that increases the odds of wet and windy conditions in the UK.
- Lang said early indications point to drier, colder, and calmer conditions later in winter, even as the wet start takes hold.
- Met Office officials warned that despite expected winter rainfall, drought conditions will persist across large parts of the UK until reservoirs return to normal levels.
- The warnings come after a summer of droughts, extreme heat, and wildfires, with flooding having caused havoc across the UK last year.
Why it matters: With 2 million unaware property-dwellers in harm's way and an El Niño-amplified wet winter ahead, the gap between flood risk and public awareness could translate into preventable property damage and displacement — especially as drought conditions will persist even after winter rains.
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