Technology to power ‘prepare and predict’ strategy against extreme weather

A new £40m network will combine the latest technology with a “huge” databank to better predict where floods and droughts will strike.

The Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure will be the first UK-wide network to focus on understanding the impact of extreme weather conditions across the country.

Announcing the scheme, UK science secretary Peter Kyle said there is “no time to waste” as climate change has made extreme weather more common in the UK.

Last year, Storm Babet caused chaos across the east of Scotland, forcing hundreds of homes to evacuate and claiming the lives of two people.

As of April, some of those affected still had not been able to return to their houses.

Led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, the team will use the latest technology to get a “clear picture” of floods' likely impact, Kyle said.

It is also hoped the initiative will bring budget savings as extreme weather costs the UK economy an estimate of £740m a year.

Kyle said: “With climate change sadly making extreme weather events more common and adding an eye-watering cost to the economy, there is no time to waste in backing our researchers and innovators to ensure we are better prepared for floods and droughts striking.

“This project will help drive that progress, with dedicated teams using the most advanced tech to crunch data gathered from our rivers and paint a clear picture of its likely impact – using the power of science and tech to keep the public safe.”

Sensor and real-time computer monitoring alongside a “huge bank of data” on river profiles and near-live information on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage, is expected to indicate where and when floods and droughts will hit.

It is understood that the findings will then be shared with key bodies like the Environment Agency to support the UK’s response to extreme weather.

Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “In the case of extreme flooding and drought, preparation and prediction are everything.

“Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses and farms are protected from these devastating events.”

Kyle also confirmed that the government will soon launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to “turbocharge” the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes.

Researchers will be based at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s offices throughout the UK, with further support from the British Geological Survey, University of Bristol and Imperial College London.