Two storms in three days to hit Wales as Natural Resources Wales issue stark warning about future flooding
Storms Dudley and Eunice are on their way
The Met Office is warning Wales and the UK are expected to be hit by two storms in the space of three days.
Storm Dudley will cross the northern half of the UK from tomorrow night, hitting parts of North Wales, where there's an Amber warning of strong winds as well as a Yellow heavy rain warning in place from tomorrow evening
A Yellow warning of winds hitting up to 80 miles an hour is blanketing the whole of Wales on Friday as Storm Eunice is due to hit.
Two years since devastating flooding in Wales
Meanwhile Natural Resources Wales are issuing a stark warning about the increased risk of flooding due to climate changes as it marks two years since the onset of the February 2020 floods triggered by Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge.
The storms resulted in record rainfall and river levels across Wales, and some of the most significant and devastating flooding seen since the 1970s.
3,130 properties were affected right across the country.
The agency is warning that record-breaking flooding is becoming a harsh new reality for Welsh communities in the future, and the need to act now to prepare for climate impacts is more pressing than ever.
"Deeply personal tragedy"
Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales, Clare Pillman said:
“Flooding is a deeply personal tragedy, and our thoughts continue to be with those still recovering and rebuilding.
“But as more and more communities affected by flooding each year count the cost of lost belongings, ruined homes and businesses, and as people live with lingering fears of future storms, we know that so much more needs to be done to prepare ourselves to face our future reality.
“COP26 and the ‘code red’ signals from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report certainly gave renewed impetus for governments to tackling this pressing issue, and we’ve seen a shift in how key players think about climate and its impacts closer to home."
More action needed
She said more action is needed to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change:
“The central focus given to climate change in the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, and the emphasis placed on mitigating future flood risk in the Co-operation Agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru are all welcome strides forward.
“But while progress has certainly been made, the climate problem has also accelerated. Which is why our thinking and our actions to help mitigate and adapt to its impacts needs to go further and faster if we’re to secure the improved flood-risk outcomes we need for the people of Wales.”