Weather Hazards in the UK

• what weather hazards are experienced in the uk?

  • storm events
  • temperature extremes
  • wind storms
  • heatwaves
  • snow and ice
• what storm events are experienced in the UK?

  • regular depressions of low pressure bring heavy rain
  • climate change will cause increased levels of rainfall and therefore higher chances of flash flooding
• what effects the uk weather?

  • North atlantic drift brings warm ocean currents to the UK
  • 5 air masses bring different weather
• what are wind weather hazards in the uk?

  • strong gales damage properties and general disruptions
  • trees can kill people if they are big and they fall
  • winds are strongest on coastal areas which puts small coastal communities at risk
• what heatwave hazards are experienced?

  • heat exhastion and breathing difficulties
  • pollution is suspended in the air as there is no wind to move it
  • transport is distrupted as roads can melt
  • tourism may benefit
• what thunderstorm hazards are experienced in the UK?

  • heavy rain, lightning and strong winds
  • kill people, cause fires and damage propertoes and habitats
• droughts

  • water supplies run low - economically impacts through less water for machinery, less irrigation, loss of crops
  • hosepipe bans affect day to day life
• how is the UK weather changing

  • more extreme
  • temps are increasing and will increase more in the future - causing high levels of rainfall
• what was the beast from the east?

  • january 2018
  • caused by stratosphere suddenly warming, which geenrated a large rise in air temperature
  • this weakened the jet stream and allowed cold air from Russia to come to europe
• what where the social impacts?

  • 10 killed
  • schools closed for 3 days
  • people where trapped in their cars on the motorway
  • gas supplies ran low and peoples power went out
• economic impacts

  • the cost to the uk economy was 1 billion A DAY
  • shops where impacted as people where told to stay indoors and not travel
  • traisn where stranded on tracks
  • businesses had loss of earnings as power went out
• environmental impacts

  • farmers lost livestock during freezing conditions
  • 20 cm of snow fell in 3 days
  • temps dropped to -10 in areas
• what management strategies where put in place to reduce the risk?

  • met office issued a red warning to stop people travelling
  • govorment asked businesses to reduce their gas useage so people cpuld heat their homes
  • community centres where opened for homeless
  • snow ploughs and gritters made roads safe
  • red cross issued out blankets to those stuck in airports and cars on the road to avoid them freezing