The week the UK has suffered floods that are expected to cost insurance companies over £1 billion. Many people have been evacuated from their homes and yet still there is more rain expected.
But why have we had so much rain in June?
The reason for this excess of rain is that the polar jet which steers our weather system is stuck further south than is usual for this time of year, so we are more open to low pressures. Last week we saw intense thunderstorms, and on Monday a low-pressure weather front sat above the same parts of the country. As a result, a month’s worth of rain fell in 24 hours in some parts of the country.
This map is from the environmental agency and shows the potential flood risk for the Ulley reservoir. This week engineers have been battling to stop this reservoir from bursting its banks. This has been successful however the pumped out water has resulted in other areas being flooded and many people have had to be evacuated. Click on the google earth link below to open this map in google earth.
click to open up a google earth file which will automatically download placemarks with flooding photos and overlay of flood zones from the environmental agency for the South Yorkshire area.
Some more links to video’s from Look North.
Look North Special on the floods
Heavy Rain Predicted this weekend
The Met office has issued a severe weather warning for the weekend of 23rd and 24th of July.
This is the latest weather warnings (these update automatically each day)
Click here for the latest satellite image of the UK
This is a powerpoint of the effects from Andy Pinks a geography teacher in Cambridge. Thanks Andy.
Thanks – the site looks good and the Google Earth file will come in handy.