This blog analyzes the latest UK climate extremes, where a severe drought and then relentless rainfall this winter have driven flooding, disrupted farming, and challenged policy makers. Drawing on recent Environment Agency data, farm testimony, and government and industry responses, the piece explains how these back-to-back events are reshaping agriculture, infrastructure, and resilience planning across the United Kingdom.
Weather extremes reshape the UK in 2025–26
From November onward, the Environment Agency issued 814 flood warnings (three of them severe) and 2,562 flood alerts as a string of Atlantic systems delivered persistent rain and damaging storms with few dry spells. Provisional rainfall figures show regionally uneven outcomes: England experienced 35% more rain than the long-term average, Wales 14% more, and Northern Ireland 25% more, while Scotland tracked 16% below average.
Devon and Cornwall faced their second wettest winter on record, and southern England its seventh wettest. This underscores the uneven distribution of moisture across the country.
Farm-level perspectives
The volatility is translating into real costs and operational risk for farms, with arable and mixed farming voices describing the season as “awful.” Replanting has become common and autumn sowing windows have shifted, eroding planning certainty.
A dairy farmer’s account highlights how drought last summer followed by floods left fields unproductive, pushed up feed costs for 650 cows, and wiped out income from roughly 30 acres of grass. These voices underscore the financial and mental-health strain on rural households as farmers navigate a cycle of volatility rather than predictable seasons.
Key impacts on the farm sector include:
- Reactive management decisions, such as delayed or altered sowing and harvest plans
- Escalating input costs, especially forage and feed
- Heightened stress and uncertainty for farming families
- Disruption to long-term investment and lending plans
Regional rainfall patterns and the cost to farming
Beyond the national averages, regional patterns reveal a mixed picture with consequences for production planning and resilience. England’s rainfall was markedly above average, Wales saw a notable increase, and Northern Ireland also registered excess moisture, while Scotland endured a significant below-average year.
The distribution of rain left some areas saturated and others comparatively dry. This complicates drainage, soil health, and crop outcomes.
Economic and mental-health toll on farmers
Farmers report not only agronomic losses but also the broader social costs of climate volatility. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has highlighted how repeated extremes strain incomes, while welfare and mental-health resources are increasingly front-and-center in rural policy debates.
The combined pressure of drought followed by flood has forced many to rethink crop choices, investment timing, and risk-sharing strategies within farming communities.
Policy responses and resilience-building
The government has pointed to several initiatives designed to bolster resilience, including collaboration with drought and flood taskforces and targeted funding. A notable investment of £91 million is directed at internal drainage boards to improve water level management, a move intended to reduce flood risk and better protect agricultural land and rural communities.
Nature-friendly farming advocates argue that the current shocks reveal the need for radical changes in production methods and land use to withstand volatile conditions.
Practical steps for resilience
To translate policy rhetoric into tangible resilience, several actions are being prioritized:
- Strengthening water infrastructure and drainage capacity to adapt to fluctuating moisture regimes.
- Enhancing planning and risk management in farming to reduce exposure to shocks.
- Supporting diversified farming systems and soil-health improvements to improve drought tolerance and flood resilience.
- Fostering close collaboration between agricultural stakeholders, water managers, and local authorities.
Looking ahead: building resilient farming and water management
The convergence of drought and flood events highlights a persistent need for robust, science-based adaptation across farming and land management.
The combination of extreme weather, market pressures, and mental-health impacts calls for integrated strategies that connect water infrastructure, agricultural innovation, and socio-economic support.
As climate volatility persists, the UK’s ability to protect food production and rural livelihoods will depend on sustained investment, reform, and a willingness to rethink traditional farming models in favor of resilient, nature-friendly approaches.
Here is the source article for this story: Severe weather swings leave families battling floods and farmers facing bad year