Climate change scientist: Expect more droughts and floods (From Bucks Free Press)

Climate change scientist: Expect more droughts and floods

1:10pm Sunday 15th July 2012 in News By James Nadal

Climate change scientist: Expect more droughts and floods

A CLIMATE change scientist says the recent 'perverse' situation of floods and droughts occurring at the same time is a trend for the future.

Fiona Hewer, a Cookham Parish Councillor, has warned that the drastic flooding seen around the UK recently, while other areas, such as Thames Valley, including Cookham and Marlow, have hosepipe bans, is likely to reoccur.

The meteorologist, who used to work at the Met Office's top climate change research centre in Hadley, Exeter, said: "One of the things we talk about as climate change scientists is that the future UK climate will have milder, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.

"Therefore we say the consequences will be more droughts and perversely more floods, which sounds rather strange.

"People say how you can have both at the same time?

"But what we've seen in the climate the last few months is exactly that situation."

Hundreds of homes were wrecked as a month's rain fall came in under 24 hours in some parts of England in recent weeks.

Cllr Hewer, who also used to work for the Royal Meteorological Society, said: "We've had hosepipe bans because of an extended period of dry weather but we've also had intense periods of rain which therefore are causing flooding in particular areas.

"We've seen exactly that - a hosepipe ban and a risk of flooding."

Cllr Hewer heads up a flood committee in the village which has put a plan into place.

She said: "I think a little bit of preparation goes an awful long way."

Both Marlow and Cookham have a history of flooding due to their proximity to the River Thames.

Last month the Environment Agency revealed a £6.3m flood plan to protect nearly 300 Marlow homes is on ice due to lack of funds.