A recent rapid attribution analysis by international climate scientists has linked the increased frequency and intensity of heavy storm downpours and total rainfall across the UK and Ireland between October 2023 and March 2024 to human-induced climate change. The storm season during this period was notably active, marked by the occurrence of multiple storms, with 11 of them named by the Western Europe storm naming group. Notably, Storm Kathleen, named in April, marked only the second time the group had reached the letter K since its establishment in 2015.
The study, coordinated by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and involving National Meteorological Services including the Met Office, Met Éireann, and KNMI, focused on the storm season’s peak from October to March. Researchers utilized the Storm Severity Index (SSI), which factors in strong winds and the affected area size, to identify the most severe storm days. This analysis underscores the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to address these escalating environmental challenges.
