UK establishes flood taskforce to brace for severe winter weather

In response to the Met Office’s warning of a "heightened potential" for wet, windy and stormy conditions, the UK government has created a flood taskforce. Defra Minister Emma Hardy announced that the first meeting will convene the Met Office, the Environment Agency, mayoral authorities and key industry stakeholders from farming, water and insurance. The taskforce aims to place communities and businesses at the centre of preparedness efforts.

Recent data show that roughly 6.3 million properties in England are still at risk, while the government has pledged at least £10.5 billion through 2036 for flood protection. The Met Office also linked the outlook to a strong El Niño event expected to peak later this year. Households have been urged to review flood risk, sign up for alerts and develop emergency plans.