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Why is the UK so rainy this year and how is the climate crisis making matters worse?
| United Kingdom | politics

Why is the UK so rainy this year and how is the climate crisis making matters worse?

#UK weather #flooding #climate crisis #rainfall records #meteorology #Atlantic storms #global warming

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Rain has fallen in at least one part of the UK every day since the start of 2024.
  • More than 100 flood warnings have been issued across the country due to saturated ground.
  • Climate change is intensifying rainfall by allowing the atmosphere to hold 7% more moisture per degree of warming.
  • The jet stream is currently positioned to funnel a continuous series of Atlantic storms toward Britain.

📖 Full Retelling

The United Kingdom has experienced a relentless period of precipitation with rainfall recorded somewhere in the country every single day of the year so far, leading meteorologists and climate scientists to issue over 100 active flood warnings as of late January 2024. This record-breaking wet spell is being driven by a persistent series of low-pressure systems moving across the Atlantic, a phenomenon experts link directly to the intensifying global climate crisis. With further downpours forecasted for the remainder of the week, the saturation of the ground has reached critical levels, threatening infrastructure and agricultural stability across various regions of Britain. Scientists explain that the primary driver for this extreme weather is the warming of the atmosphere, which allows the air to hold approximately 7% more moisture for every degree Celsius of temperature increase. This increased moisture capacity translates into more frequent and intense rainfall events, a pattern that has become increasingly evident in the UK's meteorological data. The current situation is further exacerbated by the positioning of the jet stream, which has acted as a conveyor belt, consistently funneling moisture-laden storms from the Atlantic directly toward the British Isles. Beyond immediate historical comparisons, this prolonged rainy period highlights the growing vulnerability of the UK to volatile weather patterns associated with global heating. While internal variability in weather systems is normal, the sheer consistency of the rainfall in early 2024 underscores a shift toward a 'new normal' of warmer, wetter winters. Emergency services and local authorities remain on high alert as the cumulative effect of weeks of rain increases the risk of river bursts and flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas that have little time to recover between successive storm fronts.

🏷️ Themes

Environment, Climate Change, Meteorology

📚 Related People & Topics

Climate of the United Kingdom

Climate of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom straddles the higher mid-latitudes between 49° and 61°N on the western seaboard of Europe. Since the UK is always in or close to the path of the polar front jet stream, frequent changes in pressure and unsettled weather are typical. Many types of weather can be experienced in a si...

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📄 Original Source Content
<p>It has rained in parts of the country every day of the year so far and downpours are expected to continue this week</p><p>In a “miserable and relentlessly wet” start to the year, rain has fallen somewhere in the UK every single day for weeks on end.</p><p>With more than 100 flood warnings in force across the country and further downpours forecast this week, scientists say the atmospheric forces behind Britain’s endless drizzle are the same ones <a href="https:

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