About 6.3 million homes and businesses in England remain at risk of flooding as the U.K. government launches a new extreme weather taskforce.
The move came ahead of forecasts for a wetter, windier autumn and winter on the heels of the country's hottest summer on record, according to the BBC.
Here's what to know
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' first taskforce meeting will bring together the Met Office, the Environment Agency, mayoral authorities, and representatives from the farming, water, and insurance industries.
Minister Emma Hardy said the government was acting as flood and drought risks collide.
"We're facing extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined, but the government is taking decisive action," she remarked.
The taskforce is intended to go beyond emergency response, bringing in the systems that shape how communities withstand extreme weather, including river management, farming, water supply, and insurance.
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More background
The move follows severe weather across the U.K., ending with the record-hot summer of 2026.
El Niño is one reason the Met Office expects wetter-than-usual autumn conditions. Forecasters say the current El Niño could be the strongest in living memory.
A preview of that kind of disruption came when storms Bram, Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra were all named in the winter of 2025 to 2026. During that period, England received 42% more winter rain than average, according to the Met Office.
The Environment Agency noted that flooding is not guaranteed, but the chances of repeated storms, prolonged rain, and saturated drainage zones are higher than normal.
What's being done?
The government has earmarked at least £10.5 billion ($13.9 billion) through 2036 to shield homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from flooding, making the taskforce part of a wider long-term effort rather than a one-off response.
At its first session, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs discussed plans to bring together forecasters, flood authorities, and industries that deal directly with crop losses, water stress, and property claims.
The Environment Agency is also urging residents to check their flood risk, sign up for flood alerts, and make a flood plan before severe weather arrives.
"This will put communities and businesses at the heart of our work and will make sure the U.K. is ready for whatever the weather brings next," Hardy said, stressing practical preparation.
Where can I learn more?
Flood and extreme weather pressures are facing the U.K. as temperatures rise.
• Across the U.K. and Ireland, rain is 10 times more likely to trigger damaging floods.
• Scientists warn the U.K.'s catastrophic flooding risk will grow as sea levels rise.
• Across Britain, extreme flooding is destroying wetlands that help absorb water and protect wildlife.
• Drought and flooding can collide when parched ground fails to absorb rain.
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