The government has established a new taskforce to prepare for extreme weather, including the risk of flooding this winter. This initiative follows a summer that saw record-breaking temperatures.
The group is scheduled to meet this week to assess the UK's preparedness for what the Met Office describes as a "heightened potential" for wet, windy, and stormy conditions in the coming months. Defra Minister Emma Hardy stated that the government is taking decisive action in the face of extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined.
The Environment Agency has warned that around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England remain at risk of flooding. The first meeting, hosted by Defra on Wednesday, will bring together representatives from the Met Office, Environment Agency, mayoral authorities, and the farming, water, and insurance industries.
The Met Office's seasonal outlook suggests an increased likelihood of wetter than average conditions this autumn, partly due to the El Niño weather event. This year's El Niño is anticipated to be the strongest in living memory, with its peak expected towards the end of the year.
While flooding is not guaranteed, the Environment Agency has indicated that the odds of repeated storms, prolonged rain, and saturated catchments are higher than average this winter. The government has pledged at least £10.5 billion up to 2036 to safeguard homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from the increasing threat of flooding.