The Met Office has warned that extreme weather will have a serious impact on infrastructure such as railways and bridges. Here’s a closer look at the issue.
So far this summer, the UK has already experienced three heatwaves and it’s likely more are on the way.
As the climate changes and extreme heat and intense rainfall becomes more common, the Met Office has warned that it will have a serious impact on infrastructure such as railways and roads and bridges, especially in coastal areas.
New Civil Engineer reports that the Met Office has released a new study titled ‘State of the UK Climate’, published by Wiley in the Royal Meteorological Society’s International Journal of Climatology.
The Met Office stated: “Record breaking and extreme weather has become increasingly commonplace in the UK as our climate has changed over the last few decades. The latest assessment of the UK’s climate shows how baselines are shifting, records are becoming more frequent, and that temperature and rainfall extremes are becoming the norm.”
The report details how the railway network is affected by melting and buckling of tracks during intense heat. Coastal tracks are also in danger from rising sea levels and flooding. This may necessitate structural strengthening of sea defences, cliff resilience work, and the construction of new sea walls or rockfall shelters.
Other possible infrastructure issues posed by climate change include bridge and embankment erosion, such as the Dawlish rail line collapse in 2014, which required lengthy closures and a costly repair programme.
Flooding is another major risk posed by climate change, and it can lead to submerged roads and railway lines, causing disruption and damage to surfaces. Floods can overload sewerage systems and increase the risk of pollution and damage to tunnels or storm drains.
The construction of new flood defences may be required to protect homes, public buildings and businesses. Conversely, droughts can reduce the availability of water and may disrupt the process of food production and agriculture, and necessitate the transfer of water between regions.
The Wildlife Trusts director of climate change and evidence Kathryn Brown explained:
“This report clearly reinforces that climate change is bringing more frequent extreme weather events to our doorsteps – from heatwaves and droughts to floods and storms.”
“Nature has a critical role to play in helping to safeguard homes, businesses and livelihoods from these harms, underpinning our resilience to climate change with huge financial savings.”
National Oceanography Centre sea level scientist Svetlana Jevrejeva said: “The storm surge events the UK experienced in 2024 demonstrate the potential for the UK to be affected by coastal flooding.”
“As sea levels continue to rise around the UK, this risk is only going to increase further. The timing of storms relative to the spring-neap tidal cycle is critical, but, as we know from historical events, it is only a matter of time until the UK is next in the path of a major storm surge event.”
The report found that the UK’s sea levels are rising faster than the global average, which is a particular concern for a country with over 7,000 miles of coastline.