UK launches flood and drought taskforce to prepare for extreme winter weather

The government has launched a new taskforce to respond to extreme weather, including the risk of flooding this winter, following a year of severe climate impacts that saw record-breaking summer temperatures and widespread drought conditions.

According to primary BBC reporting and official Gov.uk announcements, the newly formed Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce will convene to assess national preparedness. The Hampshire Chronicle, Slough Observer, East Renfrewshire News, and Colchester Gazette noted that the government-chaired initiative aims to strengthen the UK's overall resilience after the country experienced its third drought in five years alongside the driest July in almost two centuries.

Media additions

The first meeting on Wednesday brings together Floods and Drought Minister Emma Hardy, the Met Office, the Environment Agency, mayoral authorities, fire and rescue services, and representatives from the farming, water, and insurance industries. Defra stated that the group will share expertise, assess risks, and support a longer-term resilience strategy.

"We're facing extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined but the government is taking decisive action,"

Emma Hardy, Defra Minister, via BBC

Hardy added that the new taskforce will take a smarter, more joined-up approach to manage the nation's water. Community voices affected by both hazards will be integrated into future policy development through direct engagement and inclusion of community-based groups.

The formation of the taskforce follows a volatile 12-month period for UK meteorology. Last winter brought four named storms—Bram, Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra—alongside significant flooding events. The Met Office reported that England received 42% more rainfall than its winter average during that period. Conversely, the summer of 2026 became the country's hottest on record.

Meteorological forecasts indicate that current seasonal outlooks suggest an increased likelihood of wetter than average conditions during autumn. This pattern is linked in part to the El Niño weather phenomenon. The Met Office warned that this year's iteration of the climate event is likely to be the strongest in living memory, with its peak anticipated toward the end of the year.

The Environment Agency noted that while winter flooding is not guaranteed, the odds of repeated storms, prolonged rain, and saturated catchments remain higher than average. Authorities have urged households to check their flood risk, sign up for alerts, and prepare emergency flood plans.

The new taskforce will operate alongside existing structures, complementing the work of the National Drought Group. The National Drought Group will continue its operational response to drought, while maintaining strong links with the new taskforce to inform broader strategic resilience.

Government interventions to date include holding water companies accountable to reduce leaks, changing planning rules to make building on-site reservoirs easier, and delivering the largest flood defence programme in English history.

What to Watch Next

• The initial meeting of the Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
• Further announcements regarding community-based group participation in shaping national water policy.
• Updated seasonal forecasts from the Met Office as the El Niño event approaches its anticipated peak.
• Ongoing operational updates from the Environment Agency concerning winter storm alerts and catchment saturation levels.