21st February - Today's News: Winter 2013/14 Wettest on Record for UK

No surprise that this winter wettest on record - Met Office.   Though has to be pointed out that the total winter rainfall in Evesham has yet to exceed that of July 2007.

So why was flooding not as severe in parts of the Midlands?   Well I've answered part of that above. The Avon hasn't flooded any more than it does most winters.   But locally, we have very few properties on the flood plain and yes, defences have tended to work.

UK floods: damage 'could have been prevented' to some extent though.

US Midwest enjoys break from freezing weather but braces for flooding whilst in New York, brutal weather brings new challenge: ice falling from skyscrapers

Queensland's rivers flowing again in record breaking wet spell but drought not busted yet

Here, ancient forests exposed by storms along the coast of Cornwall

4.1 magnitude earthquake confirmed in Bristol Channel

 

Marshall Islands 'grow back' after Pacific storm

Climate change brings more crime, study says - the hotter we get, the hotter our tempers get

Unstable Atlantic deep ocean circulation may hasten 'tipping point' of climate change 

Planet-sized space weather explosions at Venus

And it's a bit worrying that I keep seeing headlines on how summer of 2014 set to be the 'hottest ever' - which will inevitably lead to criticism of the Met Office for once again 'getting it wrong' if it's not.   And there's no reason to suppose it will be.   The story first appeared in The Independent a week ago and originates with suggestions that if a major El Nino develops in the Pacific later this year, then, globally, 2014 could be the warmest year on record.  Nothing to do with Britain or our summer.   Though that said, after a mild start, there's every possibility that 2014 could be quite a warm year overall here.  And I am actually expecting some quite good weather later in the spring or summer.