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Wales Online
4 days ago
- Climate
- Wales Online
Extreme weather becoming the norm as warning UK's way of life is ‘under threat'
Extreme weather becoming the norm as warning UK's way of life is 'under threat' The Met Office is warning that we are continuously breaking heat and rainfall records, and this is how it is affecting the nation Global warming is affecting our climate, meaning more heatwaves, more floods, and colder winters (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) The Met Office has warned of our climate warming as the UK is increasingly breaking heat and rainfall records, putting our way of life "under threat". If you've been thinking the weather in the UK feels a bit different in recent years, you're not imagining things. According to the Met Office, we are breaking heat and rainfall records more often - and it's all because of the UK's steadily warming climate. Their latest State of the UK Climate report says our weather now looks pretty different from just a few decades ago. We're seeing way more really hot days and far fewer super cold nights. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here This shift is being driven by global warming, mostly caused by the greenhouse gases we humans keep pumping into the atmosphere. And it's not just about hotter summers - it's also bringing more extreme weather like storms, floods, and droughts. Unsurprisingly, this has serious consequences for wildlife too. 2024 was a hot one - and 2025's already breaking records Last year, the UK saw some wild temperature records: Article continues below Second warmest February Warmest May and spring Fifth warmest December and winter And now, in 2025, some of those records have already been broken. We have just experienced the third heatwave this summer, and it is only July. Yorkshire was hit with the first hosepipe ban of the year after the hottest June on record, which followed the sunniest and driest spring the UK's had in over 130 years. That heat and dryness led to parts of Yorkshire and northwest England being officially declared in drought. The number of days with temperatures 5°C above the 1961-1990 average has doubled for the most recent decade 2015-2024 compared to 1961-1990. For 8°C above average the number has trebled and for 10°C it has quadrupled - this shows how the hottest days we experience in the UK have increased in frequency dramatically in just a few decades. At the same time, the frequency of the coldest nights we experience has also dropped dramatically. Met Office Climate Scientist and Lead Author of the State of the UK Climate report, Mike Kendon, said: 'Every year that goes by is another upward step on the warming trajectory our climate is on. "Observations show that our climate in the UK is now notably different to what it was just a few decades ago. "We are now seeing records being broken very frequently as we see temperature and rainfall extremes being the most affected by our changing climate. 'This pace of change and clustering of consecutive records is not a natural variation in our climate. "Numerous studies have shown how human emissions of greenhouse gasses are warming the atmosphere and changing the weather we experience on the ground. "Our climate in the UK is now different to what it was just a few decades ago, this is clear from our observations." But it's not just about heat. The UK's also getting wetter - especially in winter. Between 2015 and 2024, the country saw 16% more rainfall from October to March compared to 1961-1990. Global temperatures have risen over 1.3°C since the Industrial Revolution, and the UK is warming at about 0.25°C per decade. That might not sound like much, but it's enough to seriously increase the risk of extreme weather - like massive storms or floods. When comparing the most recent decade 2015-2024 to 1961-1990, the hottest summer days and coldest winter nights have warmed around twice as much as average summer days and winter nights have in some parts of the UK. (Image: Met Office ) The Central England Temperature record (the world's longest-running weather record) backs this up, showing that recent temperatures blow past anything from the last 300+ years. In fact, the last three years were all among the top five warmest years in the UK since 1884. 2024 was the fourth warmest on record. So what happens when temperatures rise, even a little? Well, extreme weather events that used to be rare become way more common. Those 'once-in-a-decade' heatwaves or floods? They're now 'every other summer' events. The UK is also seeing way fewer cold days. In the past 10 years, there were 14 fewer frost days each year compared to the 1931–1990 average. Floods are a growing problem As in previous years, flooding and storms were the UK's most damaging weather events in 2024. A string of named storms that started in late 2023 led to massive flooding in early January. That made it the UK's wettest October-to-March stretch in over 250 years. Flooding hit eastern Scotland, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and the West Midlands particularly hard — some places got three to four times their normal September rainfall. Even the Royal Shakespeare Company had to cancel performances in Stratford-upon-Avon because of flooding. In Worcestershire, a wall collapsed after water levels rose too fast. Professor Stephen Belcher, the Met Office's chief scientist, says these events highlight why we need to get serious about preparing for future extremes. Sea levels around the UK are now rising faster than the global average, which means the flood risk will only get worse. Flooding is also being caused by rising sea levels. Tide gauge records since the 1900s provide observational evidence that sea level rise around the UK is accelerating, with two-thirds of the observed sea level rise over that period happening in just over the last three decades. The UK sea level is rising faster than the global average. Looking at 2024 specifically, the most extreme sea levels were associated with Storm Kathleen in early April, which coincided with spring tides and was influenced by high background mean sea levels. Dr Svetlana Jevrejeva from the National Oceanography Centre, said: 'The storm surge events the UK experienced in 2024 demonstrate the potential for the UK to be affected by coastal flooding. As sea levels continue to rise around the UK, this risk is only going to increase further. "The timing of storms relative to the spring-neap tidal cycle is critical, but, as we know from historical events, it is only a matter of time until the UK is next in the path of a major storm surge event. "This extra sea level rise contribution is leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme sea levels and an intensification of coastal hazards." Nature's feeling the heat too The UK's changing climate isn't just messing with our weather - it's also affecting the natural world. In spring 2024, frogspawn and nesting blackbirds both showed up earlier than ever. In fact, 12 of 13 spring events tracked were earlier than average. This change in seasonal timing (called phenology) matters a lot. Animals like hedgehogs and dormice rely on certain seasonal cues to survive. When it's too warm too early, fruits and nuts ripen too soon - and by autumn, there's not enough food left to help them fatten up for winter. Article continues below Dr Judith Garforth from the Woodland Trust, said: 'Looking at the phenology data we can see examples of how nature is responding to both weather, in the short-term, and climate, in the long-term. 'For example, the particularly warm weather in February 2024 resulted in the earliest UK average frogspawn-sighting since the series began in 1999; but over the longer-term, hazel flowering, which can occur as early as December, is starting to show an advancing trend over the whole 26 years of the data series."
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
The tiny Welsh village paying the price for having 'most famous' waterfall in Europe
The tiny Welsh village paying the price for having 'most famous' waterfall in Europe A German study found the popular cascade had top 10 search volumes A tiny Welsh village is paying the price for having one of 'most famous' waterfalls in Europe Crowds of people flocking to see a waterfall that has been identified as being one of the "most famous" in Europe is causing chaos for people in a small Welsh village. The 120ft cascade at Aber Falls and its surrounding area have been popular tourist destinations since the 18th century but as the waterfall gathers increasing attention on social media, the flow of people wanting to see it has turned into a stampede. It means an access road to the falls has now become so busy that the nearby village of Abergwyngregyn in Eryri can become gridlocked at peak times. Residents complain of being trapped in their homes, unable to leave a village that was home to the last native prince of Wales, reports North Wales Live. In terms of popularity, the waterfall was ranked 10th in Europe, placing it alongside some of Iceland's iconic cascades. Other Welsh waterfalls to feature in the list were Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed, Henrhyd Falls in Bannau Brycheiniog, Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyn Mountains and Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee in Llangollen. To arrive at its findings of popularity, German travel provider SpaDreams analysed 219 European waterfalls and their presence on Google, Bing, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok. The Hamburg-based company said waterfalls have long held a certain allure: "Anyone who has ever stood in front of a waterfall knows its magic: the hypnotic roar of the water, the caress of the spray on the face, the feeling of being in touch with the pure energy of nature." Article continues below Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls) near Abergwyngregyn (Image: North Wales Live ) Billed as a "must-visit" attraction with scenic walks, Aber Falls is within easy reach of families from Liverpool and Manchester wanting a day out. The waterfall has attracted celebrity endorsements too: last year model and TV personality Christine McGuiness described it as "the most magical, beautiful thing I have ever seen" after visiting it on BBC's Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. As it lies just a mile from the A55, the waterfall is easily accessible. A narrow road winds through Abergwyngregyn up to Aber National Nature Reserve where ticketed car parks are run by Eryri National Park and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) At busy times, villagers say queuing traffic can snake back all the way to the dual-carriageway. Gwynedd council says it is sympathetic to the issues and has met representatives to discuss solutions. But it said there are "no easy fixes". In the past, Horseshoe Falls has also faced illegal and inconsiderate parking, though enforcement has helped ease the issues. Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) Article continues below According to the SpaDreams study, Europe's highest profile waterfall is Rhine Falls in Switzerland. One of the continent's biggest falls, spanning 150 metres, it sees up to 600,000 liters of water per second plunge over a 23-metre drop. The 165-metre Marmore Falls, Italy, the world's largest man-made waterfall having been created by the Romans, was also on the list. Skogafoss waterfall in south iceland Skogafoss, iceland, july 14,2019 Otherwise, seven of the top nine were waterfalls in Iceland, crowned by the majestic Skógafoss. Cascading from more than 60 metres, it creates an imposing curtain of water that creates large, rainbow-forming mist clouds.
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Wales Online
North Wales village paying price for waterfall amongst 'most famous' in Europe
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Eryri waterfall has been identified as amongst the 'most famous' in Europe. Rhaeadr Fawr ('Big waterfall') in Gwynedd has high search rankings across social and online platforms, analysis showed. Also known as Aber Falls, the 120ft cascade and its surrounding area have been popular tourist destinations since the Romantic Period in the 18th and 19th centuries. As the waterfall gathers increasing attention on social media, the flow of people wanting to see it has turned into a stampede. An access road to the falls have now become so busy that the nearby village of Abergwyngregyn can become traffic gridlocked at peak times. Residents complain of being trapped in their homes, unable to leave a village that was home to the last native prince of Wales. In terms of popularity, the waterfall was ranked 10th in Europe, placing it alongside some of Iceland's iconic cascades. Another North Wales waterfall to feature prominently in the study was Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee in Llangollen, Denbighshire, which was placed 12th. To arrive at its findings, German travel provider SpaDreams analysed 219 European waterfalls. Search volumes were aggregated from Google, Bing, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok. The Hamburg-based company said waterfalls have long held a certain allure. 'Anyone who has ever stood in front of a waterfall knows its magic: the hypnotic roar of the water, the caress of the spray on the face, the feeling of being in touch with the pure energy of nature,' it said. With a total search volume of 202,330, Rhaeadr Fawr is not the biggest waterfall in Wales but it's regarded as one of the most impressive. Billed as a 'must-visit' attraction, with scenic walks, it's within easy reach of families from Liverpool and Manchester wanting a day out. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The waterfall has attracted celebrity endorsements too: last year model and TV personality Christine McGuiness described it as 'the most magical, beautiful thing I have ever seen' after visiting it on BBC's Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales. As it lies just a mile from the A55, the waterfall is easily accessible. A narrow road winds through Abergwyngregyn up to Aber National Nature Reserve where ticketed car parks are run by Eryri National Park and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) At busy times, villagers say queuing traffic can snake back all the way to the dual-carriageway. Cyngor Gwynedd is sympathetic to the issues and has met representatives to discuss solutions. But it said there are 'no easy fixes'. In the past, Horseshoe Falls (search volume 166,020) has also faced illegal and inconsiderate parking, though enforcement has helped ease the issues. (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live) According to the SpaDreams study, Europe's highest profile waterfall is Rhine Falls in Switzerland (search volume 674,250). One of the Continent's biggest falls, spanning 150 metres, it sees up to 600,000 liters of water per second plunge over a 23-metre drop. In third spot was 165-metre Marmore Falls, Italy, the world's largest man-made waterfall having been created by the Romans. Otherwise, seven of the top nine were waterfalls in Iceland, crowned by the majestic Skógafoss (search volume 551,950). Cascading from more than 60 metres, it creates an imposing curtain of water that creates large, rainbow-forming mist clouds. Other Welsh waterfalls to feature in the European list were Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed, Conwy (search volume: 62,660, 36th place) and Henrhyd Falls in Bannau Brycheiniog (search volume: 62,660, 44th place). One of the tallest in Wales, Pistyll Rhaeadr in the Berwyn Mountains, was ranked 60th with a search voume of 33,120. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find the weather forecast where you live
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Warwickshire Reform's Pride flag focus is pathetic, says Green MP
An MP has accused Reform UK of "getting its knickers in a twist" over a Progress Pride flag flown outside a council headquarters - and also told the party to focus on more important issues rather than "posturing and performative politics".Ellie Chowns, the Green Party member for North Herefordshire, was referring to a row in Warwickshire where Reform UK requested the county council it leads to remove such a told BBC Politics Midlands that Reform's focus on flags was "pretty pathetic" and voters were more interested in potholes and bin on the same programme, Reform UK's Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire Council, said: "We are defending the public interest." He added: "We were elected on a mandate and we intend to do it."Also among the guests for Sunday's broadcast were Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam Sir Jeremy Wright who said the flag row in Warwickshire was a "distraction" and was not what most people cared about."For heaven's sake, are we really going to discuss what flag flies outside Shirehall in Warwick as a priority for the people of Warwickshire?" he row began when the county council's acting leader - Reform UK's George Finch - wrote to the authority's chief executive, asking for the flag to be removed during Pride chief executive refused, stating in an email response that such decisions rested with her - a stance described as a coup d'etat by Zia Yusuf, head of the national party's department of government efficiency. It later emerged that the authority did not have the technical advertising consent required to fly a Progress Pride flag outside HQ. The flag's design differs from the standard Pride rainbow flag which is not subject to permission. The flag has since been removed following the end of Pride said there was "nothing whatsoever" wrong with the Pride flag, but council buildings should "represent the people of the county and of the United Kingdom"."If you want to fly a Pride flag or any other flag, go and find a flag pole and fly it," he said. Another guest, Sureena Brackenridge, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton, said that in her constituency "not many people are really concerned about what flag flies outside the council buildings".Her comments were echoed by Chowns and Sir said she believed "people care about potholes, about bin collections, people care about social care and looking after vulnerable adults and children in the community".Sir Jeremy said Warwickshire County Council had huge challenges which should be taking up the council's time, instead of flag policy."I really do worry that this is a demonstration of what many of us are concerned about, which is that Reform is all about slogans and not much about delivering things that people really care about," he added that if Reform wanted to set a flag policy, it needed to be debated by councillors. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Wales Online
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Cyclist hospitalised after collision with car on busy road
Cyclist hospitalised after collision with car on busy road The cyclist has sustained 'serious injuries', police say The cyclist was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital after the incident (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) A cyclist has been hospitalised following a serious crash which closed a busy road. The incident saw a car collide with the person riding the bicycle on Sunday afternoon. North Wales Police say the incident took place at Faenol Hill in Bangor at 2.09pm. The rider of the bicycle was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital with "serious injuries". A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "This road traffic collision was reported to us at 2.09pm on Sunday, June 22, and involved a pedal cyclist and a Mazda MX5 on the A487 Faenol Hill, Bangor. "Emergency services attended and the cyclist was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd by Wales Ambulance Service Trust with serious injuries. "Vehicle was recovered and the road re-opened shortly before 4pm." Article continues below
