Environment - 2013 - 2014 Storms and Floods (121) More files...
The Winter of Storms and Floods



The winter of 2013-2014 was the wettest on record in the south and west of Britain, as a series of
fierce depresssions swept across the Atlantic on a more southerly track than usual. Our photographers braved the conditions to document the exceptionally wet and stormy weather that
battered Britain and the Atlantic coast of France between December 2013 and February 2014.



This gallery shows some of our in-depth coverage of the flooding in the Somerset Levels and the
Severn and Thames valleys, revealing the impact of floods on both people and the environment,
including the rescue efforts, pumping and flood defences. David Woodfall's dramatic aerial images
show the extent of the flooding in the Somerset Levels, where more than 40 square miles of land
were submerged, and the flooded towns of the Severn Valley.



Benoit Stichelbaut photographed storms Petra and Ruth hitting the coast of Brittany, while Mark Taylor's images show high seas on the Sussex coast and our East Anglian photographers experienced the impact of the storm surge in North Norfolk.


Van driving through floods in Somerset Levels January 2014 near Burrowbridge, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
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David Woodfall / Van driving through floods in Somerset Levels January 2014 near Burrowbridge, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
Flooded Somerset Levels at sunset, looking west from Burrows Mump during January 2014 floods, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
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David Woodfall / Flooded Somerset Levels at sunset, looking west from Burrows Mump during January 2014 floods, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
Farm gate reflected in waters of January 2014 floods, West Sedgemoor RSPB Nature Reserve, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
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David Woodfall / Farm gate reflected in waters of January 2014 floods, West Sedgemoor RSPB Nature Reserve, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 11th January 2014.
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) pair in flooded agricultural land adjacent to River Severn, 10th February 2014.
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David Woodfall / Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) pair in flooded agricultural land adjacent to River Severn, 10th February 2014.
Couple in kayak during January 2014 flooding, North Curry, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 10th January 2014.
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David Woodfall / Couple in kayak during January 2014 flooding, North Curry, Somerset Levels, England, UK, 10th January 2014.
Rescue workers entering property with inflatable raft to check on home owners,  during February 2014 flooding, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 9th February 2014.
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David Woodfall / Rescue workers entering property with inflatable raft to check on home owners, during February 2014 flooding, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 9th February 2014.
Mute swan (Cygnus olor) swimming in flooded petrol station during February 2014 floods, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 8th February 2014.
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David Woodfall / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) swimming in flooded petrol station during February 2014 floods, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 8th February 2014.
Petrol station flooded during the February 2014 floods, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 9th February 2014.
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David Woodfall / Petrol station flooded during the February 2014 floods, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, England, UK, 9th February 2014.
Car park flooded by River Wey, with cars almost completely submerged during Christmas 2013 flooding, Guildford. Surrey, England, UK. 25th December 2013.
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Mark Taylor / Car park flooded by River Wey, with cars almost completely submerged during Christmas 2013 flooding, Guildford. Surrey, England, UK. 25th December 2013.
Guildford town centre, flooded by River Wey at night, during Christmas flooding 2013. Surrey, England, UK, 25th December 2013.
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Mark Taylor / Guildford town centre, flooded by River Wey at night, during Christmas flooding 2013. Surrey, England, UK, 25th December 2013.
Flooded Datchet railway station at night, Berkshire, England, UK, 11th February 2014.
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Mark Taylor / Flooded Datchet railway station at night, Berkshire, England, UK, 11th February 2014.
Car stranded in February 2014 floods from the River Thames, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey, England, UK, 15th February 2014.
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David Woodfall / Car stranded in February 2014 floods from the River Thames, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey, England, UK, 15th February 2014.