Brits have been warned of a New Year’s Eve deluge which is set to smash the UK and spark chaos on one of the biggest nights of the year. Weather models have predicted strong rain – and even snow – moving into the British Isles, with the north and west particularly exposed to harsh conditions.
Official maps indicate the north east area near Newcastle will be the hardest hit, with up to 3mm of rainfall crashing down per hour. Precipitation like this could stretch all the way to the west coast, leaving the Lake District and south western Scotland plenty of hard work to cope.
Much of Scotland will be soaked, and the country will even receive some snow – up to 2cm per hour in some parts – in the Cairngorms mountain range. Much of the Scottish Hebrides and other parts of western Scotland will receive heavy rain – in parts reaching up to a serious 5mm per hour.
Northern Ireland won’t avoid a deluge either – much of the country should expect rainfall. Similarly, western Wales will probably be very damp.
The New Year’s deluge will come just days after Storm Gerrit has wrought havoc on the UK. Last night a tornado damaged around a hundred homes in the Tameside area of Greater Manchester. In addition, Storms Agnes, Babet and Ciaran smashed the UK in September and October.
Man-made climate change – which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and destruction of nature – is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. Among these extremities include storms, hurricanes, droughts and heatwaves.
Greater unpredictability and extremity in weather poses a risk to human security both directly – such as through tornado-damaged homes – but also indirectly. For example, crops will face tougher growing conditions, meaning less food will be produced.
2024 may see food shortages influenced by climate change – as well as global conflicts and transportation issues. For example, Britain’s imports of Spanish olive oil will soon take a hit as the country’s 2023 harvest was halved compared to normal years as a result of extreme heat, wildfires and drought. The UK relies heavily on other countries for the importation of fresh fruit and vegetables, a vital part of a healthy diet.
