The picture above shows the River Thames flooding in 2007. London has survived the plague and the 'Great Fire', but will the city survive the 'Great Flood of London' which is almost certain to come?
A new study, aptly named the 'Wild Weather Warning Report' is not at all hopeful, unless you like lots of rain. It forecasts that what we now call "extreme" weather will become the norm.
According to the study, which could be called the 'Long Range Disaster Forecast', by 2050 there could be 19 per cent less rainfall in the summer causing water shortages, and 14 per cent more rainfall in winter causing floods. By 2080 the temperature on the hottest day of the year could increase by up to 10C.
The study by the London Climate Change Partnership predicts annual heat waves for London which will kill thousands, as well as regular tidal surges, windstorms and heavy rainfall events causing serious flooding in the city on a regular basis.
Nearly 15 per cent of London lies at risk from tidal and fluvial flooding. One of the findings of the study is that the effects of heavy rainfall causing flooding in London usually come about two days after the main down pour.
• A separate climate study just released by the Met Office predicts catastrophic global warming in our lifetimes which will threaten the water supply of half the world's population.
• worlds rivers are sinking, millions at risk
