Overview

• The Met Office and Environment Agency forecast a higher chance of wetter and windier conditions from September to November, with a warmer season likely.
• Western and northern areas are expected to see the heaviest rain under stronger westerlies, while eastern and southern regions may remain comparatively drier.
• Early September downpours have already arrived, including more than 28mm in London over the first four days of the month.
• The Environment Agency warns that initial heavy rain on hard, dry ground can trigger flash flooding and carry pollutants into waterways, with 6.3 million properties at some flood risk.
• The Floods Resilience Taskforce is convening to review readiness as a £2.65bn two‑year defence programme progresses, with around 27,500 properties improved in 2024–25 and 92.7% of critical defences in required condition.