UK launches flood taskforce to prepare for extreme winter weather
Environment minister Emma Hardy leads emergency talks as forecasters warn of severe storms and heightened flood risks following a record summer.
The UK government is setting up a new Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce to prepare emergency services and infrastructure for severe winter weather, following warnings from the Met Office of an increased risk of heavy rain and storms over the coming months.
Chaired by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) minister Emma Hardy, the group will hold its first meeting on Wednesday. It brings together officials from the Met Office and the Environment Agency alongside regional mayors and representatives from the farming, water, and insurance sectors.
The initiative comes after a summer of record-breaking heat and drought across the country. According to the Environment Agency, around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England remain at risk of flooding.
What the weather warnings show
Forecasters at the Met Office have warned that seasonal weather patterns point to a wetter-than-average autumn and winter. The elevated risk is driven in part by an El Niño climate event in the Pacific Ocean, which meteorologists expect could be the strongest in living memory before peaking towards the end of the year.
While the Environment Agency emphasised that severe flooding is not guaranteed, it noted that the likelihood of repeated storms, prolonged rainfall, and waterlogged soil is significantly higher than usual this winter. Officials are urging households to check their flood risk, sign up for local warnings, and put emergency plans in place.
Funding and recent climate impact
The UK experienced extreme weather conditions throughout the past year. Summer 2026 was recorded as the warmest on record in the UK, following a winter that saw four named storms — Bram, Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra. During that winter period, England received 42 per cent more rainfall than its long-term seasonal average.
To bolster defenses against future surges, the government has committed at least £10.5 billion in funding through to 2036 to protect communities, businesses, and transport links from severe weather.
Speaking ahead of the initial meeting, Defra minister Emma Hardy said the new taskforce aims to create a more integrated approach to managing water risks, noting that flood and drought conditions are increasingly intertwined. "This will put communities and businesses at the heart of our work and will make sure the UK is ready for whatever the weather brings next," she said.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Properties at flood risk in England | 6.3 million | Environment Agency |
| Government flood protection funding until 2036 | £10.5 billion | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Excess England rainfall during previous winter | 42% above average | Met Office |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Country preparing for winter storm and flood threats. |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Government department launching and hosting the new taskforce. |
| Met Office | UK weather agency issuing forecasts and participating in the taskforce. |
| Emma Hardy | Defra minister chairing the new taskforce. |
| Environment Agency | Public body warning of property flood risks and participating in the taskforce. |
