The flash floods and storms that hit Cumbria are something we'll see more of, unless action is taken to deal with global warming, says Envoronment Agency head.
The Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Paul Leinster, told Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning (1:08:23):
“I believe we are seeing climatic change, yes, and I think that the sorts of storms and the increased rain that we’re seeing is the sort of thing that we will see more of in the future.”
He added:
“This is the largest amount of rainfall that we have ever seen in a 24-hour period, so, yes, we keep the records, but, every now and again, the records get broken, and this is one of the occasions, this was a record-breaking event.”
The Met Office confirmed a record 12.3 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in the area — the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the UK.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told the BBC that flood defences were meant to withstand a one-in-100-years flood — but could not cope with the volume of water.
Mr Benn said:
“What we dealt with last night was probably more like one-in-a-1,000, so even the very best defences, if you have such quantities of rain in such a short space of time, can be over-topped”
The Met Office said the amount of rain expected for all of November fell in one day. During severe floods in the UK in 2007 the Prime Minister had also made the climate link.
18 Responses to “Storm latest • Largest rainfall ever • Evidence of climatic change • More to come in future”
Shamik Das
RT @leftfootfwd: Storm latest • Largest rainfall ever • Evidence of climatic change • More to come in future: http://is.gd/51TqM
Anon E Mouse
So in 2007 Gordon Brown made the link between Climate Change and these types of floods.
By agreeing the third runway at Heathrow and it’s implications for the good people of this country via climate change he should be in court.
Anon E Mouse
That last comment was rhetorical by the way….
Stepney
Duh…
Largest rainfall ever! What, since 4,600,000,000 years ago? Or since 1766?
Even the creationists seem to have abetter grasp of earth history than you – at least they can go back 2000 years without having a nosebleed.
Typical alarmist horsehit. Whoever heard of scientific rigour and decent journalism going hand in hand?
Stepney
And you cannot have “largest rainfall”. How typical of people who know all about Global Warming and nothing about Geography, Meteorology, Hydrology or Fluvial Dynamics.
You can have heaviest, most intense or longest duration.