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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Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards — James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026 — Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

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