Two million people in England unaware their properties are at risk of flooding — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Environment Agency warned that of the 6 million properties in England at risk of flooding, roughly one-third (~2 million) of owners are unaware they face the threat.
- Caroline Douglass, the EA's director for flood and coastal risk management, urged the public to check gov.uk for their flood risk, sign up for flood warnings, and prepare a flood plan.
- Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said the three-month outlook for October–December shows an increased likelihood of wetter, windier, and milder than usual conditions, with early signs of drier, colder, calmer weather later in winter.
- Lang attributed the wetter tilt partly to a "subtle" influence from a supercharged El Niño, calling it one of several factors that together create a "heightened potential for flooding."
- The Met Office cautioned that despite expected winter downpours, drought conditions will persist across large parts of the UK until reservoirs return to normal levels, which will require above-average rainfall.
- Flooding caused havoc across the UK last year, coming after a summer marked by droughts, extreme heat, and wildfires.
Why it matters: With the Met Office's three-month outlook flagging wetter, windier conditions driven partly by El Niño, 2 million unaware English homeowners face elevated flood exposure this winter — and the Met Office says even above-average rainfall is needed just to refill reservoirs and ease the existing drought.
Ask SkimNews
