More than two million people in England are unaware that their properties are at risk of flooding, according to the Environment Agency. As the UK braces for a wet and stormy start to winter, the agency is urging residents to check their flood risk and prepare accordingly. This warning comes at a critical time, with experts predicting that the next three months will likely be wetter and windier than usual due to large-scale weather patterns and the influence of El Niño.

Of the six million properties most at risk of flooding in England, roughly one-third of residents are unaware of the threat they face. The Environment Agency's director, Caroline Douglass, has urged people to visit the government website to assess their risk level, sign up for flood warnings, and develop a flood plan. The Met Office's three-month outlook indicates an increased likelihood of wet, windy conditions from October through December, though drought conditions are expected to persist in some areas until winter rainfall allows reservoirs to return to normal levels.