Extreme weather like Storm Ciara and Dennis is a serious political issue – Angus Robertson

As climate change continues, severe storms will becoming increasingly common, writes Angus Robertson.

A member of the public and a dog are rescued amid floods in Nantgarw, Wales, after Storm Dennis hit the UK. (Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

After weeks of heavy rainfall, blustery winds and extreme weather conditions, things are beginning to return to normal.

Spare a thought though for people across the UK, whose nightmare has only just begun, as they try and come to terms with their flooded homes, damage to their possessions and the worrying thought that it might all happen again.

Previously we used to hear about major floods being a ‘once in 50 years’ or ‘once in 100 years’ event. Now we seem to be enduring named storms with ever greater frequency. Last week it was Storm Ciara, this past weekend it has been Storm Dennis.

There have been more than 300 flood warnings in different parts of the UK, including five severe warnings in England. While the flooding has been described as “unprecedented” in parts of Wales, emergency funding has been activated for Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. In Scotland, the Borders village of Newcastleton was particularly badly hit.

Homes have been evacuated and inundated, roads shut, bridges closed and train services severely affected. Tragically people have lost their lives.

Spare a thought today for everyone who has been affected everywhere. With climate change continuing, extreme weather conditions are sadly going to become ever more frequent.

Hopefully, responsible decision-makers will factor that into planning and policies, while there will be less bandwagon chasing from scarcely credible opposition parliamentarians, as there was recently on the Queensferry Crossing.