Extreme Weather

Question 1

Forms of extreme weather

Answer 1

Big freeze
Heat wave

Flash flood
Blizzard

Drought

Hurricane
Storm force winds

Question 2

Winter storms UK

FACTS

Answer 2

Dec 2013- Feb 2014 = 12 maj storms

Wettest month since records began in Jan

Widespread disruption (transport)

Wave height 25m
100,000 homes no power 12th Feb
Winds gusted at 50-60kt (81mph in western isles)
67 day period of rain

Question 3

Winter storms impacts

Answer 3

7.3 mill tonnes needing to be removed each day

Farmers lost 11.5 thousand hectares

Toxic ground water

Villages cut off

Trains disrupted for 3 weeks on dawlish railway track

Question 4

Government responses to uk floods

Answer 4

Royal fam visits

Military, marines and 40 commando stations called in

Politicians visit

13 pumps from Netherlands to move water fast

Question 5

Preparation def

Answer 5

Individuals and local authorities doing things before it happens

Question 6

Planning def

Answer 6

Emergency services and local councils can plan in advance

Question 7

Warning def

Answer 7

Warning systems giving people time to prepare

Question 8

Prep examples

Answer 8

3rd Jan Thames barrier closed

Dredging on the Somerset levels in March

£100m tidal barrage and permanent pumping sites

Question 9

Planning examples

Answer 9

Jan homeowners told to evacuate

Upstream holding areas for water built

25th Jan pumping equipment brought in

Question 10

Warning examples

Answer 10

5th Dec 40 severe flood warnings

Emergency services advised more than 15,000 people to leave homes in east coast of England

Question 11

Extreme weather def

Answer 11

Weather that is more severe than what is normally expected

Occurs infrequently