UK launch flood taskforce to prepare for extreme winter weather
The UK government has established a new taskforce to address the increased risk of extreme winter weather, including flooding. The group will coordinate efforts between the Met Office, the Environment Agency, and various industry stakeholders to protect infrastructure and communities.
Why it matters
With millions of homes at risk and climate patterns shifting, proactive government intervention is critical for disaster mitigation and public safety.
Image source, Getty Images By Tabby Wilson Published 11 October 2026, 01:44 BST The government has launched a new taskforce to respond to extreme weather, including the risk of flooding this winter.
After a summer of record-breaking temperatures, the group will meet this week to assess how prepared the UK is for what the Met Office described as the "heightened potential" for wet, windy, stormy weather in the coming months.
"We're facing extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined but the government is taking decisive action," Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister Emma Hardy said in a statement ahead of the meeting.
The Environment Agency has warned approximately 6.3 million homes and businesses in England remain at risk of flooding.
Defra will host the first meeting on Wednesday, bringing together the Met Office, Environment Agency and mayoral authorities as well as the farming, water and insurance industries.
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