What was the worst flooding in the UK?

What was the worst flooding in the UK?

North Sea Flood – 1953 One of the greatest storm surges on record drowned 326 people in the UK at the end of January 1953. The flooding forced 30,000 people to be evacuated from their homes, and 24,000 properties were seriously damaged.

Is UK flooding caused by climate change?

The government agency said in a report that climate change will exacerbate the pressure on England’s water environment. Climate change will cause more floods and droughts, rising sea levels and a greater demand for water supplies, the Environment Agency has warned.

What year was the big storm in England?

1987
The Great Storm of 1987 caused devastation across southern England and claimed the lives of 18 people.

Where are the worst floods in UK?

The combination of high rainfall and high water levels from the earlier rainfall led to extensive flooding across many parts of England and Wales, with the Midlands, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, South, West and East Yorkshire the most affected.

What caused Somerset Levels flooding 2014?

The extensive floods were caused by a combination of human and physical factors: • A prolonged period of extremely wet weather – in southern England it was the wettest January since records began in 1910 – saturated the ground and led to frequent over-topping of the rivers Tone and Parrett creating a huge lake covering …

What happened in the Somerset floods 2014?

During December 2013 and January 2014 heavy rainfall led to extensive flooding with over 600 houses and 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of agricultural land, including North Moor, Curry and Hay Moors and Greylake, affected. The villages of Thorney and Muchelney were cut off with many houses flooded.

Why does the UK flood so much?

Climate change is increasing the risk of both flooding and drought in the UK. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more water, which is then released during rainfall events. A drought may end with heavy rainfall that cannot drain away as the ground has dried out and flooding may occur as a result.

Why is the UK getting so much rain?

The prevailing warm moist westerly winds mean that the west of the UK is more likely to receive rainfall from Atlantic weather systems, in the form of frontal rainfall. These weather systems usually move from west to east across the UK and as they do so the amount of rainfall they deposit reduces.

What year was the worst storm?

Great storm of 1987

Where are UK floods?

Places hit the hardest included areas of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Around 22,000 properties were under protection by flood defences, including nearly 7,000 properties alone in Yorkshire.

When was the last storm in the UK?

Storm Alex and heavy rain. Storm Alex brought strong winds to the southern half of the UK, while 3 October 2020 was the wettest day on record since 1891 for UK-wide rainfall with average rainfall of 31.7mm across the entire UK …

Who drained the Somerset Levels?

Much of the area has been historically drained for agricultural and residential purposes. The Levels are cut in 2 by the Polden Hills which run parallel with the Mendip Hills further to the north. The River Parrett drains the southern section and the Rivers Axe and Brue the northern.