Source: The Conversation – UK
The UK is bouncing from one type of extreme weather to another this year. This is climate whiplash. Caused by changes in the fast-moving body of air high up in our atmosphere called the jet stream, climate whiplash has increased in likelihood with climate change. This constant changing of extreme weather makes it a challenge to build resilience.
Drought and heatwaves play a big role in this rollercoaster of weather extremes. There are many different types of droughts – in simple terms drought is an absence of water from an area, meaning it is drier. For a drought to be declared in a region of the UK, the National Drought Group (chaired by the Environment Agency which has responsibility for droughts) meets, looks at several factors and decides. This process is similar to how the UK decides to name winter storms.
There have traditionally been four key types of droughts. Hydrological drought is when lakes and rivers drop below certain regional levels. Meteorological drought is based upon how long it has been dry for. Agricultural drought links lack of rainfall to negative consequences on plant growth. Socio-economic drought happens when the demand for water is higher than the supply available.
There is also another type of drought which is relatively new – flash droughts which are caused by hot, dry, windy weather that acts like a hairdryer. One of the main drivers in flash droughts in UK spring and summers is atmospheric evaporative demand. This is how thirsty the atmosphere is. In some parts of the UK such as parts of southern England, it is suggested there is a flash drought where the atmosphere has been thirstier than the available moisture. In most other parts such as North Wales, we are simply experiencing a hydrological drought.
When heatwaves and drought or dry conditions occur together in the UK, they make each other more intense. The baking dry ground causes a rise in the air temperatures. These conditions also raise the risk of wildfires occurring.
But heatwaves are a separate hazard to drought. Heat is so tricky because while you cannot see higher temperatures or hotter conditions, we feel extreme heat. This is why heatwaves are sometimes called silent killers and an invisible risk.
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The deadliest heatwaves can occur outside of drought or dry conditions. This is because moisture in the air, humidity, limits our ability to cool down. One way we measure this is through the wet bulb temperature. Meteorologists measure this by using a normal thermometer wrapped in wet muslin cloth – it is an indication of how difficult it is to lose heat through sweat.
Drought is the absence of moisture and so to reach a higher wet bulb temperature is physically more challenging and requires a lot more energy than when that moisture is present.
Opportunities for change
New research shows that many people in the UK are now fearful of climate change because of recent heatwaves. While it is good to be concerned, this can lead to inaction and not knowing what to do. There are many solutions to build resilience to climate whiplash and multi-hazards in the UK.
We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. Because we haven’t already mitigated greenhouse gas emissions quickly enough, we are now globally experiencing intensifying climate whiplash. Investment needs to focus on transitioning faster through scaling up clean energy, restoring natural environments and building resilience.
Climate change is also a social challenge. Tackling it can help address longstanding policy areas, social inequalities and emerging challenges. One of the main places we see heat-related excess deaths outside of hospital are in care homes. So mitigating and adapting to extreme weather can be integrated into long-term social care planning.
Unemployed young people can be upskilled to fill gaps in green and climate-related jobs and clean energy sectors. This gives them a purpose and creates a more specialist skilled workforce.
Investment and considerations of different models for the water industry in the UK can build resilience to multi-hazards. For droughts, storing water; for heatwaves, covering increased pressure; and for flooding and excess rainfall, addressing risk. Schemes such as improving pipe infrastructure, wastewater treatment, reservoir building and more sharing of water within relevant regions of the UK are also important.
Policy can be set out by the UK government to ensure the most vulnerable people to extreme heat in care homes, schools and hospitals will have access to air conditioning when they need it. Policy should also be designed with urban greening, retrofitting and long-term sustainable urban planning with extreme weather in mind. Energy resilience is also important and involves making use of sunnier days and building grid capacity to capture that energy from renewable sources.
While we may keep flashing from hot dry conditions to wet and wild ones, the solutions are in front of us.
Chloe Brimicombe is part funded by an ESRC grant. She is a heat ambassador for Shade the UK.
Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/07/31/a-rollercoaster-of-weather-extremes-drought-and-heatwaves-are-creating-uks-climate-whiplash/