Our climate is changing so is the risk of flooding

Standing on various main stage podiums, she has highlighted to the world that current emission rates will use up the agreed ‘carbon budget’ within eight years which will cause temperatures to rise by 1.5 C . Given the UK’s current adverse weather, a rise on this scale could lead to more persistent flooding threats.

The UK was bombarded with flash floods and severe rainfall in 2019. Towards the end of July, the North of England was rocked by flash floods, culminating in landslips in areas such as Carlisle and Skipton as well as infrastructure destruction with bridges in Yorkshire damaged or destroyed.

A spate of flooding incidents in August and September also caused traffic chaos in the North West, Midlands and the South East of England.

However, the floods experienced in November left many metaphorical and physical foundations shaken as flood defences failed and communities disrupted.

The average monthly rainfall of 3.5 inches fell within a day in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, forcing communities to evacuate from the sewage-ridden water invading their homes and businesses.

Whilst events like these were once seen as a freak occurrence, they are now becoming more predictable. The Met Office has forecast wetter winter and drier summers by 2070, with the average winter rainfall increasing by 35% per year.

Research recently published in Science also found that compound flooding, occurring when storm surges and heavy rainfall combine, will become more prevalent in west coast areas of Great Britain.

Although unusual for the UK, compound floods are likely to take place more than once every six years with the Bristol Channel and the Devon and Cornwall coast considered particular hot spots.

In addition to physical damage, the threat of flooding entering the homeowner psyche more frequently is leading to greater levels of mental health issues.

A study of over 7,500 people, conducted by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of York, found that homeowners whose homes were damaged by adverse weather were 50% more likely to suffer mental health problems.

Whilst a huge proportion of the stress was financially related, a reduced sense of security is exacerbating the issue. Ensuring a client is fully aware of the facts surrounding their potential property has never been so important. Flood reports provide critical information on river, coastal, groundwater and surface water risks and enables legal professionals to assess the flood risk of a particular property or piece of land.

GlobalX offer an extensive range of flood reports to suit any type of conveyancing transaction. Reports are available for both residential and commercial properties and can also be undertaken on a piece of land. From efficient automated reports through to manually assessed environmental reports, GlobalX can offer the ideal report to suit all needs.

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