The Guardian view on heavy rain: England's flood defences are not strong enough | Editorial

"With flood warnings still in place across south-west England and Wales on Monday, followed by another fortnight of wet weather forecasts, the sodden ground across swathes of the UK is not likely to dry up any time soon. Reports that Aberdonians have not seen so much as a sliver of sun since 21 January prompted an outburst of stoicism on BBC radio, with one resident commenting: You have to get on with it, brighter days are coming."

"Marketing consultant Sam Kirby told the Guardian that she had to work from a car park in Cornwall following Storm Goretti, because her broadband wasn't working. And Goretti was the first of three January storms. In Somerset, where more than 600 homes were flooded in 2014, emergency pumps have been added to the permanent ones stationed at Northmoor, in an attempt to keep water at bay."

"In a letter to the environmental audit committee of MPs, the environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, said that efforts at strengthening workforce competence across the flood sector would help English councils to cope, while a revised planning framework would take flood risks into account. But years of cuts to Environment Agency budgets, combined with confusion over its purpose, mean that confidence in its capacity to lead on climate resilience efforts, including flood prevention, is far from assured."

Flood warnings remain across south-west England and Wales, with forecasts predicting another fortnight of wet weather and saturated ground unlikely to dry soon. North-east Scotland faces more heavy rain. Some residents respond with stoicism. Farmers and businesses suffer disruption, including broadband outages, while growers wait for floodwaters to recede before assessing crop damage. Somerset has added emergency pumps at Northmoor. The Environment Agency is reviewing flood management strategy while the environment secretary seeks strengthened workforce competence and planning that accounts for flood risks. Cuts to Environment Agency budgets and uncertainty over its purpose have reduced confidence in its leadership on climate resilience.

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