Storm Floris brought unusually powerful winds and heavy rain to much of the UK and Ireland in early August 2025—a time of year not typically associated with severe storms. While summer weather systems like this are rare, climate change is increasingly linked to the intensification of storm impacts, particularly through enhanced rainfall.

Scientific research shows that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during storms, especially along frontal systems. Although current climate models suggest that strong summer windstorms may become less common, winter storms are projected to become more frequent and more intense. However, high-resolution modelling also indicates that extreme wind events—driven by features like cold jets and sting jets—could still occur in any season under future climate scenarios.

What makes storms like Floris more dangerous in a warming world isn’t just their intensity, but also their timing and unpredictability. With fully leafed trees, more people outdoors, and increased summer travel, such events pose greater risks to public safety and infrastructure. While we may not see more storms in summer overall, the ones that do occur could be more damaging due to climate-amplified rainfall and seasonal vulnerability.

Storm Floris serves as a stark reminder that climate change is not just shifting long-term weather patterns but also altering the character and consequences of extreme events, requiring stronger adaptation, planning, and public awareness year-round.

Read more about Storm Floris here.