1.  UK could face harsher and more frequent winter storms   Carbon Brief reports on a new study, which finds that the UK could face harsher and more frequent winter storms if global emissions aren’t curbed. The research uses modelling to investigate how rising global temperatures could change the movements of mid-latitude storms by the end of the century. In a warmer world, changes to storm tracks could mean countries further from the equator, including the UK, face more frequent and more intense storms during winter months.

2.  Environment Agency: economic damage from winter 2015 to 2016 floods cost almost £2bn

The total economic damages for England from the winter 2015 to 2016 floods were estimated to be between £1.3 billion and £1.9 billion, with a best estimate of £1.6 billion, according to a new report from the Environment Agency.

The report of the high level economic damages says that business (non-residential) properties suffered the greatest proportion of flood damages, with 32% of total damages occurring to this sector (best estimate of £513 million incurred by 4,944 properties).

At a national scale, the winter floods of 2015 to 2016 were the most extreme on record according to the intensity of the rainfall, resulting in widespread flooding during December 2015 and January 2016 – primarily in the north of England. The events resulted in flooding of many properties, transport infrastructure and farmland. Click here to read more.