Insurer Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) has warned households that Britain is now at risk of major floods at any time during the year adding that floods during the summer now account for 35% of all claims.
July and August each accounted for 12% of all property flood claims received in the past two years, putting the months joint second behind December, which accounted for 17%, said the insurer.
Britian’s traditional “flood season” is between late Autumn and early spring, but in five out of the past ten years, Aviva said it received the bulk of flood claims during the summer and significantly so in 2020 and 2021.
Summer flooding comes from heavy rain falling on dry ground and can occur when thunderstorms follow an intense hot and dry spell.
In winter, it is more likely to be persistent rain causing rivers to burst their banks.
Jason Storah, Aviva’s UK & Ireland general insurance chief executive, said: “Traditionally, we think of floods happening in the autumn and winter, when rainfall occurs over a period of time and rivers reach capacity.
"However, this analysis shows that floods can and do occur at any time and summer flash floods are becoming more commonplace.
“This pattern of flood claims suggests that residents and businesses should be prepared for floods at any point during the year and put in place a flood action plan.”
Shares in Aviva rose by 0.6% to 479p.