December 2015 was the wettest month in Britain since records began in 1910, with 2015 being recorded as the sixth-wettest year overall. The last month of 2015 also broke the record for the warmest December on record, with temperatures 4.1C above average.
Severe floods swept across Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland at the end of December and the start of 2016. Storm Frank battered areas of the UK, resulting in around 6,700 properties being flooded in northern England over the Christmas period. River levels reached all time highs, while three severe flood warnings remained in place, with flood alerts being issued in a number of locations.
Weeks of persistent rainfall saturated the ground and swollen rivers burst their banks, leaving swathes of northern England, and parts of Wales and Scotland unsafe. Over 100 flood warnings remain in effect as of 6 January.
Although there have been no fatalities or serious injuries reported during the course of Storm Frank, hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes. Emergency crews worked extra shifts to try to restore power to roughly 7,500 blacked out homes in the greater Manchester and Lancashire areas. Rescue crews were forced to use boats in order to assist people out their homes and, in some cases from their submerged vehicles.
Personal belongings and wrecked caravans are seen at Ballater Caravan Park, after the River Dee burst its banks and inundated the city with flood water in Ballater, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesDebris litters the ground at Ballater Caravan Park in Scotland – after the River Dee burst its banks and inundated the city with flood waterMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesA local man clears out his lock up that was inundated by flood water after the river Tweed burst it's banks flooding the area in Peebles, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesStormy weather brought heavy rainfall along with severe flooding to the north of England and ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesMembers of the fire service look at caravans that were swept away at Ballater caravan park after the river Dee burst it's banks in Aberdeenshire, ScotlandRussell Cheyne/ ReutersA man walks his dog near section of the A93 between Ballater and Braemar near Crathie which has collapsed into the river Dee in Aberdeenshire, ScotlandRussell Cheyne/ ReutersFlood-damaged contents are removed from a business at Newton Stewart, ScotlandDarren Staples/ ReutersA man attempts to pump flood water from his home after more heavy rain caused a local burn to burst its banks in Aboyne, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesMembers of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service watch as a helicopter from HM Coastguard Rescue Service lands in a field with an elderly couple and their two dogs whose house was in danger of flooding in Blairgowrie, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesSpecialist rescue crews from HM Coastguard Rescue Service and The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service help an elderly couple and their two dogs whose house was in danger of flooding in Blairgowrie, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty ImagesSpecialist rescue crews from HM Coastguard Rescue Service and The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service help an elderly couple and their two dogs whose house was in danger of flooding in Blairgowrie, ScotlandMark Runnacles/ Getty Images
British Prime Minister David Cameron sent hundreds of troops into northern England to help exhausted residents and emergency workers fight back rising river waters which inundated towns and cities after weeks of torrential rain. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon comforted those who were left devested by the horrendous flooding in Scotland, while Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn did the same for those in Yorkshire.
The British government held a rare Christmas Day ministerial meeting in order to deal with the continuing flooding in parts of the country.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to a resident in Yorkshire, after it was floodedDarren Staples/ ReutersPrime Minister David Cameron meets soldiers works on flood relief in Yorkshire city centre after the river Ouse burst its banksDarren Staples/ Getty ImagesLabour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks with residents who were affected by the recent floods during his visit to Walmgate in YorkshireCraig Brough/ ReutersScotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks with women at a rest centre for flood victims at Newton Stewart in ScotlandDarren Staples/ ReutersScotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to children during her visit following flooding at Newton Stewart, ScotlandDarren Staples/ Reuters
Water submerged the streets of Yorkshire, with people being told to abandon their homes for higher ground while others were told to move their valuables and listen to advice from emergency services about possible evacuation.
A woman cleans the inside window of her wine bar, as the floodwaters rise from the rivers Foss and Ouse, after they burst their banks in YorkshireJustin Tallis/ Getty ImagesRescue teams wade through flood waters that have inundated homes in the Huntington Road area of York after the River Foss burst its banks in YorkshireJeff J Mitchell/ Getty ImagesA view looking over the collapsed bridge over the River Wharfe that collapsed due to flooding in Tadcaster, north YorkshireIan Forsyth/ Getty ImagesSubmerged goal posts can be seen above flood water on the outskirts of Tadcaster, YorkshireIan Forsyth/ Getty ImagesA car is partly submerged by flood water after the River Foss flooded in YorkshireIan Forsyth/ Getty ImagesA combination of pictures showing floodwaters reaching high up the front door of a property in Yorkshire, northern England and the same property on the same day (bottom) after the water levels had droppedJustin Tallis/ Getty ImagesA man inspects the office of a taxi firm which has filled with floodwater from the rivers Foss and Ouse, after they burst their banks in YorkshireJustin Tallis/ Getty ImagesA building that collapsed during flooding is seen in the town of Mytholmroyd, west YorkshireAndrew Yates/ ReutersThe River Calder bursts its bank's in the Calder Valley town of Mytholmroyd, west YorkshireChristopher Furlong/ Getty ImagesA worker walks past a mountain of flood damaged property that has been collected after the Boxing Day floods in Mytholmroyd, west YorkshireChristopher Furlong/ Getty Images
