But, I do wonder on occasions if the weather patterns are actually being more severe. We've had terrible floods in East Scotland and North England. .
Col
I don't really know myself Colin. I do know that in the 50s and 60s I remember it being colder between October and March. Weather is never constant. Before and during Roman times Britain was certainly warmer. Then there was a period of mini ice ages as you mentioned. Since the 1700s it has tended to be going warmer though. So not altogether due to the industrial revolution in the 1800s.
Flooding we've always had but it may be worse now because the rivers and tributaries aren't maintained any more. Councils have also allowed building on flood plains. The Environment Agency will now not object to building in areas that may flood. They are ignored for budgetary reasons. When it goes wrong, the solution is only more money. If a town can have more houses then they take more in Council Tax. There a a few towns and villages North of the Cotswolds that flood quite often. One, Tenbury Wells is flooded again and they are still talking about starting on flood defences. Whish is as you can guess will be..
.next year. Bewdley which has new flood defences, flooded because of plant failure, whatever that is. So the removable increase in height wasn't installed. Then when the town flooded they couldn't get in to do the work. You couldn't make it up. They've actually spent millions on Bewdley defences and have no actual plan as to what they should do, or when, if the river rises. Oh dear, we were caught by surprise because it rained a lot last week and we never expected it to fill up the river.
It does appear to be the way in England that if a town floods everyone is energised to do something about it ASAP. Then after six months it is summer and it isn't important any more. So it is forgotten until the next time. Holland is several feet below sea level, yet we flood more than they do. The incompetence appears to be endemic, or maybe they can now get a degree in incompetence I don't know. You just give up.