The Environment Agency has warned that around six million properties in England are at risk of flooding, and that more than two million people are unaware their homes sit in those vulnerable areas. The alert comes as forecasters predict an unusually wet and windy period over the coming three months that could raise the likelihood of flooding.
Experts cited by the agency said a combination of large-scale weather patterns and what they described as the subtle influence of an unusually strong El Niño will make the next three months more likely than average to be wet and stormy. That shift in conditions, they said, could increase pressure on rivers, drainage systems and coastal defences.
The Environment Agency urged residents in at-risk areas to take steps to prepare for the season ahead. Officials said the elevated risk underlines the importance of public awareness about local flood risk and preparedness measures, especially as the country moves into the winter months.
The warning highlights the challenge of communicating flood risk to the public: while millions of properties are classed as vulnerable, a significant number of people living in those homes do not realise they are exposed. The agency and experts have emphasised the need for people to check their local risk and to stay alert to official updates as conditions evolve.
Local authorities and emergency services will be monitoring weather developments and managing responses where flooding occurs, the agency said. The warning serves as an early-season reminder of the potential for increased disruption to communities, transport and infrastructure if the predicted wet and windy conditions materialise.