Nov 28 2009 by Tim Lewis, South Wales Echo
Recommend SOUTH Wales is particularly prone to flooding and can expect more severe weather in the future, an academic has warned.
Dr Simon Jones, a physical geographer at the University of Glamorgan in Treforest, Pontypridd, said the wet and windy weather conditions experienced over the past few weeks could become more frequent.
He said: “When we look at trends and average rainfalls – this is an exceptional month.
“But will it happen again? Yes, we must expect it will happen in the future.”
Dr Jones said the geography of South Wales makes it vulnerable to heavy rainfall and flooding.
“Certainly for South Wales it is an issue,” he added. “We have steep valley sides, thin soil and ‘flashy’ conditions. So when rain falls it processes through the system very quickly and we end up more vulnerable to flooding.
“The carrying capacity of the land has been overcome and wetter weather puts a strain on infrastructure such as bridges and drainage systems.”
Dr Jones also said climate change will also lead to more intense and unpredictable downpours of rain.
He added: “Climatologists are saying the world is getting warmer and meteorologists say warmer weather will bring wetter weather.”
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