England homeowners urged to check flood risk as winter storms loom

More than two million people in England are unaware their properties are at risk of flooding, as the country braces for a wet and stormy start to winter, according to the Environment Agency. Experts predict that the next three months are more likely than usual to be wet and windy, influenced by large-scale weather patterns and the impact of a supercharged El Niño, which increases the potential for flooding.

The Environment Agency stated on Wednesday that a third of the six million properties most at risk of flooding are unaware of the threat they face. Caroline Douglass, director for flood and coastal risk management at the agency, urged the public to check their flood risk on the government website, sign up for flood warnings, and create a flood plan if they are at risk.

Following a summer of droughts, extreme heat, and wildfires, the UK is now facing a potentially wet and stormy start to winter. Will Lang, chief meteorologist with the Met Office, indicated that the three-month outlook suggests an increased likelihood of wet and windy conditions for October, November, and December, with early signs pointing to drier, colder weather later in the winter. Lang noted that while El Niño contributes to the increased probability of wetter and windier conditions, it is one of several factors influencing the UK's weather, describing its impact as a "subtle shift in the odds."

The Met Office also cautioned that despite the likelihood of flooding in the coming months, drought conditions may persist in many parts of the UK until reservoirs are replenished, which would require above-average rainfall throughout the winter.