Brits are being told that they should brace themselves for “never-ending rain” and mini-tornadoes.
The dire warning comes from scientists who say Britain is on course to be hammered by the impacts of climate change within a decade.
In the alarming new forecast, scientists have predicted that by 2034 the UK will experience relentless rainfall, potentially leading to monsoon-like conditions and hailstorms – significantly heightening the risk of flooding.
According to a chilling analysis from the World Weather Attribution group, Britain needs to gear up for what might seem like perpetual torrents, with the intensity of downpours expected to surge every five years.
The nation could face prolonged spells of monsoon-like rains and hailstorms, causing disruption year-round, even during the traditionally sunny summer months. The public has been warned to prepare for more frequent floods and the arrival of “supercell storms,” or mini-tornadoes, reports the Mirror.
The Met Office and BBC Weather have also issued forecasts indicating ‘likely’ heatwaves in the upcoming summer months, despite the chilling predictions. These extreme weather events are anticipated to become more common and violent.
Bill McGuire, a prominent professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), outlines a grim future with intense, short-duration deluges becoming the norm.
He warned: “In summer, shorter-lived torrential rainfall and hail are more likely associated with convective storms [severe local storms] that develop when temperatures are high. Higher average wind speeds will mean that future storms will be increasingly damaging.”
“Massive supercell storms will become more likely year-round, bringing increased flash flooding.”
Experts have pinpointed that while these severe convective storms could hit any part of the UK, areas experiencing the highest temperatures, particularly southern and central England, are at a greater risk. The latest findings also shed light on changing weather patterns set to impact water resources, agriculture, and urban infrastructure.
Chris Brierley, a preeminent climate science professor at UCL, has called for urgent and immediate action to reduce the potential harm. He said: “There needs to be a change in the way we manage flooding, including reforesting bare hillsides to soak up water run-off and paying farmers to allow land to be used to hold excess river flow.”
This alert follows recent alerts urging Britons to brace themselves for imminent heavy rain, with predictions suggesting the arrival of up to 25mm of rainfall, as depicted in maps by Ventusky forecasters.
Slated for next week (June 7, 2024), the impending storm is expected to drench the southeast of England and Wales with copious amounts of rain.
Swansea and Cardiff are of particular concern, with forecasts predicting the heaviest concentration of rainfall.
While the brunt of the storm is expected to hit the southeast and Wales, other parts of the country, including much of southern England, are also anticipated to experience significant rainfall, with up to 12mm of rainfall predicted for these areas.
