Are wetter winters and frequent flooding here to stay?

Parts of the UK have seen their highest January rainfall in over a century, with numerous locations recording their wettest start to the year in more than 100 years.

Heavy rainfall has persisted in various parts of the UK, from Cornwall to County Down, following the wettest January on record, with February also experiencing significant downpours.

An aerial photo showing a sea of flooded fields in Somerset and in the foreground is a hill with a church on the top — Flooded fields near Burrowbridge in Somerset this month

According to meteorologists, the recent deluge is attributed to a stagnant weather pattern, where a high-pressure system over Scandinavia is preventing the wet weather from dissipating.

The Met Office predicts that wet winters will become more frequent due to global warming, with such events expected to occur once every 20 years, up from once every 80 years at current rates.

This shift is likely to have substantial implications for housing, transportation, and food supply, among other areas.

A Somerset farmer expressed concerns to the BBC, stating that his crops are on the verge of rotting due to floodwater, leaving him in a precarious situation.

On Tuesday, the Environment Agency reported over 100 flood warnings across the UK, with more than 300 homes already affected by floodwaters.

The prolonged rainfall follows a pattern similar to previous years, with six of the ten wettest winters on record occurring this century, according to the Met Office.

While natural variability influences the UK's rainfall, the trend towards wetter winters aligns with predictions from the UK's meteorological organization.

A visual graphic of the UK showing rainfall across the UK in January 2026 as a percentage of the 1991 - 2020 average. Wetter areas are shown as dark blue and cover most of the country apart from East Scotland and North East of England

The increased burning of fossil fuels over the past two centuries has released greenhouse gases, such as CO2, into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

For every 1C rise in temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.

Simultaneously, sea levels around the UK are accelerating due to warmer oceans and melting glaciers.

Since 1901, sea levels have risen by 20cm, which, when combined with extreme storm events and tidal surges, can exacerbate coastal flooding.

The UK currently experiences around seven days of heavy rainfall (over 80mm per day) annually, with 30mm of rainfall in an hour typically triggering flash flood warnings.

Line graph showing the variation in total rainfall between December and February between 1836/37 and 2024/25. The lines are in blue and the trend line is black dashed, it shows a steady increase over the period, with slight fluctuations. The headline reads "UK winters have been getting wetter". The source is Met Office.

However, the Met Office predicts that if global temperatures rise by more than 2C, the number of heavy rainfall days will increase to nine.

According to the United Nations, even with current emission reduction policies, global temperatures are expected to rise by at least 2.5C by the end of the century.

Prof Lizzie Kendon, head of climate projections at the Met Office, explained that more intense rainfall and clustered rainfall events are becoming more frequent.

Graphic showing two maps of the UK side by side and how rainfall will change across the country in a 1.5C and 2C warming scenario. Title reads "Predictions for UK winter rainfall in a warmer climate"

"This can lead to successive rainfall events, resulting in saturated soils and exacerbated flooding, as seen in the UK," she stated.

Heavy downpours and saturated soils can cause significant damage to homes, transportation infrastructure, and food supply.

The Environment Agency estimates that by 2050, one in four properties will be at risk of flooding, with this number potentially rising if more homes are built on floodplains.

The East Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, and south-east England are particularly vulnerable to flooding.

The UK government plans to build 1.5 million new homes, with some areas seeing over 10% of new homes constructed in flood-prone zones, which could increase the risk of flooding.

The transport network is also at risk, with a third of railways currently vulnerable to flooding, leading to cancellations and infrastructure damage.

Government figures indicate that in less than 25 years, over half of the rail network will be at risk of flooding.

The National Farmers Union warned MPs in November about the severe risks the farming sector faces due to drought and flooding.

A man wearing a green jacket and checked shirt stands to the right of a grassy field which is submerged below flood water, the edge of a fence can be seen behind him. — James Winslade said nearly all of his farm has been flooded in the recent rains

The NFU stated that farmers experience both drought and flooding annually, which significantly impacts their ability to produce food.

The wet winter of 2024, the second wettest on record, resulted in £1bn in losses for the sector due to damaged crops.

Somerset farmer James Winslade has seen over 90% of his farm submerged in recent rains and is on the verge of losing his crops to rot.

Winslade emphasized that farmers lack protection and compensation for crop damage, making it challenging to cope with the impacts of flooding.

As a third-generation farmer, Winslade noted that his father and grandfather never experienced the frequency and severity of flooding that he is currently facing.

The UK has an extensive network of flood defenses, but maintenance is fragmented among various organizations, including farmers, water companies, and charities.

The Environment Agency maintains around 100,000 flood defenses, but 9% of these are currently below their target condition.

Previous analysis by the BBC Shared Data Unit found that flood defenses not maintained by the Environment Agency are 45% more likely to be below target.

Increased development, such as concreting over surfaces for housing or car parks, can exacerbate flooding by preventing rain absorption and overwhelming drainage systems.

An Environment Agency spokesperson stated that the agency is committed to helping communities adapt to the impacts of climate change, including flooding.

The government has allocated £10.5bn for flood protection, aiming to safeguard an additional 900,000 properties by 2036.

This report includes additional contributions from Mark Poynting, Jonah Fisher, Miho Tanaka, and Tom Ingham.

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GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.

Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.

A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.

Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.

However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.

Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.

"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.

With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.

The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.

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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.

With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.

However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.

The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.

Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.

Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.

The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.

"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.

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Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.

The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.

The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.

In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.

Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.

He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.

A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.

The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.

The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.

Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.

The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.

The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.

The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.

Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.

The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.

The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.

The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.

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Golfer McIlroy Sinks Bunker Shot at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

At the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, capping off his opening round with a score of 68.

During the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, Rory McIlroy achieved an eagle on the 14th hole at Spyglass Hill, contributing to his first-round score of 68.

For further information, Rory McIlroy had a solid opening round, while Hisatsune took the lead.

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