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This month Liam Dutton, Channel 4’s weather presenter, on the long-range forecast for climate change
HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS?
Growing up in south Wales, the rainstorms, snow-capped mountains and wonderful cloud formations fascinated me. I studied geography at university and then joined the BBC Weather Centre as a broadcast assistant. Two years on, I started reporting on camera and in 2011 became Channel 4 News’ first weather presenter.
IS OUR WEATHER GETTING WILDER?
There have definitely been more extreme weather events since I started reporting 20 years ago. The 2020 heatwave in North America shocked me: Canada reached 49.6°C, breaking its previous hot weather record by 5°C. Records are usually broken by fractions of a degree, so this was startling. Then in the UK, the weather has been changing markedly, with our climate becoming warmer and wetter due to climate change.
SO WHAT’S GOING ON?
For every degree that global temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold seven per cent more moisture, which means heavier rainfall and more flooding.
IS BRITAIN GETTING WETTER?
Being an island, we’re protected against those extremes in North America, but the UK still broke its maximum temperature record twice in the past 20 years (in 2019 and 2003). Then, in 2020, we experienced record rainfall, causing nationwide flash flooding.
IS IT WORSE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE?
Everywhere could experience more flooding in years to come but urban spaces are most vulnerable to flash floods because concrete and Tarmac are impermeable. The wettest regions, like north-west Scotland and Cumbria, will also become wetter. At the moment, both areas get about three metres of rain per year, while the driest parts of the UK, in East Anglia, get 60 centimetres.
AT LEAST THE EAST IS SUNNY…
The coast from East Anglia to Kent is certainly the UK’S sunniest spot, with about 1,600 hours of sunshine per year, compared with north-west Scotland, which has around 900 hours. In 2019, the UK’S hottest-ever temperature (38.7°C) was recorded in Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
WILL IT GET TOO HOT TO HANDLE?
Well, most UK homes don’t have air conditioning, so already when heatwaves hit, it can be challenging – particularly for very young and elderly people. The 2020 heatwave was thought to be responsible for 2,000 deaths and if we have more weather like that, we could face melting roads, railways buckling and dry vegetation, increasing the risk of wildfire.
GIVE US A RAY OF HOPE…
What I’ve spoken about may sound worrying but we are capable of sorting this out. Still, it’s important we understand weather: it impacts us all and everything we do, from our mood to the way our days play out, so it deserves all the attention it gets.
AND FINALLY… EVER BEEN CAUGHT WITHOUT YOUR UMBRELLA?
When Storm Doris hit in 2017, I travelled to Rhyl in north Wales to film the impact. The waves were crashing over the harbour wall, and I had to lean into the 95mph wind to stand up. I also had to abandon a live broadcast because of lightning a few years ago – not good when you’re wired up with a microphone next to a satellite truck!