Record breaking July 2006
After both the record breakingly high temperatures and sunshine amounts during July it may seem that the course of our summer is set. Whilst it certainly looks as though the summer overall will be a warm one there are some significant trends that we should carefully note.
One of the most obvious is that our Climate has a habit of righting itself; that is for most periods when the weather has set into a warm dry pattern there will be a definitive break from this; a period of unsettled wetter weather may result. There have been several notable periods when hot dry weather has been followed by very wet unsettled weather, such as in 1947 and 1975 when standpipes had hardly been erected in the streets (and a Minister for appointed) before it was raining heavily!
Another concern is that the sea water temperatures are up to 3-4C warmer around our coasts now than they would normally be. Whilst this means our sea bathing is rather pleasant, meteorologically it can provide problems,
given the maritime nature of our climate. Any air masses which approach us relatively slowly over the sea surface are likely to be warmed rather more than they would normally. This allows them to hold more moisture and if the pressure falls and an unsettled regime predominates, we may see a lot more rainfall than normal as a result.
On the face of it this may seem like a good thing. Many areas in the south do still have hosepipe bans and the state of many lawns shows that they do require the water. However, summer rainfall is not especially useful generally as it tends to run off the soil rapidly without sinking in and so does not increase the water table in the long run. Equally, it can cause flash flooding where large volumes of water pile up and cause damage, both to crops in rural areas and, of more concern, across urban areas especially in valleys and near to floodplains. Given this possibility it is as well to be prepared for such eventualities.
If you think you are likely to be affected by flash flooding then you should take precautions before the event if possible
- You can purchase flood guards and flood gates in advance which you can lay around your property. If your home is regularly at risk of flash flooding these really can offer worthwhile protection.
- Alternatively you could make up sand bags in advance, using cloth or plastic sacking
If a flash flood occurs
- Move elderly people and animals to safety first then alert others
- Ensure sandbags are in place and plug up sinks and baths putting a sandbag in the toilet bowl as well
- Turn off the gas and electricity supply, unplugging electrical items and moving them upstairs or into loft space if time permits
- Don't try to walk or drive through the floodwater unless told to do so by the police pr other agencies. It only takes six inches of fast flowing water to knock you over. Just two feet of water will float your car. It may also be contaminated with debris, silt and sewage.
As the Environment Agency point out, flooding often happens very quickly and when you least expect it, such as in the early morning, when it’s dark. They suggest that preparing an emergency flood plan can help you through a serious situation; by creating the plan with all the members of your family, explaining what to do and even practising the plan, it will help prepare everybody for the time when you may need it.
For further information see the Environment Agencies website at : http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/
