Sodden Britain in the grips of wettest winter in 130 years

Britain is enduring its wettest winter in 130 years with large parts of the country currently submerged in flood water – with experts warning the saturated landscape resembles a “sopping wet sponge”.

More than 300 flood warnings have been issued in the aftermath of Storm Henk, while more than 1,000 properties have become submerged and almost every river in England has recorded exceptionally high water levels.

Since September, there have been eight named storms – the highest number in a season to be named by the Met Office – with the period between July and December last year being the wettest on record since 1890.

They have turned the country into what hydrologist Professor Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading described as a “sopping wet sponge”.

Storm Henk brought a wall of rain across England and Wales, with large parts recording more than 40mm of rain – almost half the average for the month – in just 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the Met Office.

Environment Agency data shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high with some reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton. Caroline Douglass, the agency’s flood director, said the Trent has been at “some of the highest levels we’ve seen in 24 years”.

Farmers are facing huge losses due to waterlogged fields rotting crops, several major rail links have been flooded and insurers are estimated to pay out £560m as a result of Storms Babet, Ciaran and Debi, which have so far prompted nearly 50,000 claims.

Of these costs, £352m is expected to go towards damaged homes, with a further £155m to damaged businesses and £53m for damaged vehicles.

With the average payout for a flooded property currently standing at £36,000, insurers are likely to face another barrage of claims after Storms Gerrit and Henk wreaked havoc over the Christmas period.

Experts warn that the rise in extreme weather will mean home owners could face a surge in renewal premiums, with fewer policies available for those living in coastal areas.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for compensation, urged the government to make changes to flood defences and introduce support schemes to better protect rural businesses.

Peter Gadd, a farmer in Nottinghamshire and chairman of the NFU’s crops board in the East Midlands, said Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran in the hit within 10 days of him having sown a crop of wheat and barley – 40 per cent of which washed away before emerging from seed.

He believes he has lost about £14,000 to £15,000 in the current floods, though he can only tally the total once the water has cleared, for which he will receive no compensation or insurance payout.

He said: “We’ve just got to see what we can retrieve in the spring, but many of the crops that have been sown and those that were unharvested that are now under water will not be retrievable.”

While the Met Office forecasts drier weather over the weekend, the Environment Agency said ongoing impacts are likely to continue over the next five days as a result of the ground being “completely saturated”.

Describing the rainfall as “well above average” for parts of the country, senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said that wetter winds and heavy periods of rain are expected each year as the effects of global warming take hold.

Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident on Thursday due to rising levels along the River Trent, with residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s, were forced to evacuate.

Another 50 people were led to safety by firefighters in Hackney Wick in east London, after a canal burst its banks, while a party boat sunk in the River Thames.

Parts of England, including Gloucestershire, were also submerged with a range of 20-30mm of rain falling across several southern counties, with a number of cows drowning in the village of Sawley in Derbyshire.

Xural.com