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UK rivers face rising risk of climate 'whiplash'
https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/news/article/uk-rivers-face-rising-risk-of-climate-whiplashBy: Communications
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Climate change could push UK rivers to dangerous extremes and see more frequent rapid swings between wet and dry conditions – a phenomenon known as hydroclimatic whiplash – according to research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Researchers analysed almost 700 river catchments across the UK to project how river flows may change at 2°C and 4°C of global warming.
The results reveal stark regional contrasts and growing challenges for communities and water managers trying to plan for flood and drought risk – particularly in areas that will increasingly experience both.
Publishing their findings today in the journal Earth’s Future, the authors also warn of more intense river flooding during extreme rainfall events in western and northern parts of the UK and longer dry spells and lower river flows in southern and eastern England, regions that are already water stressed.
…
He, Y., Manful, D., Forstenhäusler, N., Huang, Y., Smith, B., & Zha, Q. (2026). Escalating hydroclimatic extremes and volatility in the UK under 2°C and 4°C warming. Earth's Future, 14, e2025EF007156. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EF007156Wednesday 17 June 2026
Climate change could push UK rivers to dangerous extremes and see more frequent rapid swings between wet and dry conditions – a phenomenon known as hydroclimatic whiplash – according to research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Researchers analysed almost 700 river catchments across the UK to project how river flows may change at 2°C and 4°C of global warming.
The results reveal stark regional contrasts and growing challenges for communities and water managers trying to plan for flood and drought risk – particularly in areas that will increasingly experience both.
Publishing their findings today in the journal Earth’s Future, the authors also warn of more intense river flooding during extreme rainfall events in western and northern parts of the UK and longer dry spells and lower river flows in southern and eastern England, regions that are already water stressed.
…