Most recently, the UK has been suffering through storms that have been the worst weather seen in over two decades. This bad weather was ongoing throughout December, when parts of southern England saw almost twice the amount of rainfall that is normal for that time of year. The first major storm hit the UK around the 5th of December, with another on the 18th and a third on the 23rd-24th.
The current wet weather is being caused by an unusual weather system in North America called a polar vortex which is drawing cold air down from the arctic. This has effected the direction and strength of the Jetstream of high level wind that determines our weather. Currently the Jetstream is approaching us from the southwest bringing us mild and wet weather that is more characteristic of autumn, and this autumnal weather has also brought with it a multitude of storms that have been causing flooding across the UK.
Costal areas like Aberystwyth are struggling against high tides and strong winds while places nearby rivers such as Guildford have been badly affected by the floods. Many across the UK have had to evacuate their homes as the violent Atlantic storms and flooding pose a great risk to their safety. Last week around 106 flood warnings were issued with a further 236 places put on flood alert, because although the storms are starting to calm down the rainwater is sticking around and will continue to cause flooding problems.
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