Andy McKenzie, a groundwater scientist at the British Geological Survey, told Sky News that even if the rain stopped today, so much water is soaking through the soil that levels are likely to keep rising for another two months. The risk of flooding could remain high until May, he said.

According to the data from the British Geological Survey nine of the 14 boreholes in southern England are now showing “exceptionally high levels”. At Chilgrove House in Sussex the groundwater level at the end of January beat records going back 179 years.

And at a borehole at The Well House Inn in Surrey the extraordinary rainfall has pushed up the water table by 20 metres in the last two weeks. The British Geological Survey estimates 1.6 million properties in England and Wales are at risk of groundwater flooding.

And groundwater flooding was projected by scientists. ClimateCentral reported in 2012.

In a report released Sunday in Nature Climate Change, Kolja Rotzoll and Charles Fletcher predict that in some areas, freshwater bubbling up from underground could more than double the flooding caused by intruding seas alone.

UK boreholes used to measure the height of the water table are overflowing in many areas, with the highest levels ever recorded.

David Cameron: climate change a ‘serious threat’ http://t.co/vBaZMaTmAy

— ClimateState (@climatestate) February 11, 2014

Related

UK Flooding and the Science of Climate Change

Flooding in the UK

‘Most Exceptional Period Of Rainfall In 248 Years’ In The U.K. Is ‘Consistent’ With Climate Change

Volunteer army set up to examine archaeological sites uncovered by floods
Giant Waves Consuming Ancient UK Coastal Landmarks
Some of Wales’ coastal towns ‘face being abandoned’
Climate change means we will have to get used to flooding

Chris Machens

Chris Machens is managing Editor at ClimateState, based in Berlin. Chris begun with commenting climate related articles around 2007. In light of the growing climate crisis writing became more professionally, covering many topics, with the focus on the science and establishing ClimateState.com in January 2012.

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