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.
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18 Responses to “Storm latest • Largest rainfall ever • Evidence of climatic change • More to come in future”
Shamik Das
Thought this might flush out the extremists! Do either of you have anything to say on the actual story?! Never mind the scientific evidence, which you seem incapable of understanding, use the evidence of your own eyes.
Stepney
1 in 1000 year flood, Get a book. Look it up. It means this is the likelihood of an event happening every 1000 years.
“Largest” rainfall ever – ha!
Stepney
“Story”.
Just about sums it up.
Eddy Anderson
RT @leftfootfwd: Storm latest • Largest rainfall ever • Evidence of climatic change • More to come in future: http://is.gd/51TqM
Anon E Mouse
Shamik – Since your views are the minority opinion on this matter and as the majority don’t believe in (man made) CO2 causing global warming…
…the only extremist that has been flushed out is yourself.
Or are you defying logic and now claiming that majority opinion is extream?
But you seem to have missed my point.
If Gordon Brown knew in 2007 that (man made) CO2 caused an increase in the planets temperature which resulted in the disaster in Cumbria then why did he go ahead with Runway 3 at Heathrow and coal-fired power stations?
I think Brown knows this is a load of unproven drivel, especially since the planet is getting colder but goes along with it for the taxes and public opinion.
I don’t like the man (look I’m in the majority again Shamik) but you are effectively asking me to believe that the Prime Minister of Great Britain has knowingly allowed a massive contribution to Global Warming. I do not believe he’s that bad Shamik – logic says you must do but I don’t.
Sorry.