The UK government has launched a new taskforce to tackle extreme weather and winter flooding risks, with the first meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The Environment Agency warns that approximately 6.3 million homes and businesses in England remain at risk of flooding as the country prepares for a winter of heightened potential for wet, windy, and stormy conditions.

The Met Office attributes the outlook to the El Niño weather event, describing the current iteration as likely the strongest in living memory. The agency forecasts an increased likelihood of wetter than average conditions during autumn, with the peak of the phenomenon not expected until the end of the year.

While flooding is not guaranteed, the Environment Agency stated that the odds of repeated storms, prolonged rain, and saturated catchments are higher than average this winter. The agency urged households to check their flood risk, sign up for alerts, and create a flood plan to prepare for potential emergencies.

Defra Minister Emma Hardy said the government is taking decisive action to protect communities. "We're facing extreme weather, with flood and drought intertwined but the government is taking decisive action," Hardy said in a statement ahead of the meeting. The government has committed at least £10.5 billion up to 2036 to shield homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from the growing threat of flooding.

Hardy added: "This will put communities and businesses at the heart of our work and will make sure the UK is ready for whatever the weather brings next." Defra will host the first meeting on Wednesday, bringing together the Met Office, Environment Agency, mayoral authorities, and the farming, water, and insurance industries.

The new measures follow 12 months of extreme weather, including the summer of 2026 being recorded as the country's hottest on record. Last winter brought four named storms—Bram, Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra—that caused significant flooding, with the Met Office reporting that England received 42% more rainfall than its winter average.