FloodSax can stop a powerful torrent of floodwater All these 20 FloodSax came from this one easy-to-carry box FloodSax are great at soaking up internal leaks to prevent water damage The new TubeSax door floodstopper which will be on sale this autumn

Met Office warns of flooding this autumn and early winter so be prepared with FloodSax alternative sandbags

It looks like it’s going to be a wet and windy autumn and early winter with the risk of flooding in the UK.

The Met Office is warning of a lot of rain and potential flooding which may end up being partly caused by the record-breaking El Niño event in the tropical Pacific.

The latest Met Office 3-month outlook indicates the chances of a warm and wet autumn for the UK are around one-and-a-half to two times higher than would normally be expected. An increased likelihood of windy conditions also emerges later in the season.

So what is El Niño and why should it impact the UK weather?

According to the Met Office El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs when sea-surface temperatures in parts of the tropical Pacific become warmer than average. Earlier this year forecasts from the Met Office and other leading global weather modelling centres indicated that one of the strongest El Niño events on record would develop during the northern hemisphere summer and autumn. These forecasts have been borne out with the current El Niño already at near-record levels and with potential to grow even further before its anticipated peak this winter.

Although El Niño develops in the tropical Pacific it can affect weather patterns in Europe through global-scale atmospheric connections. Historically, El Niño events have tended to be associated with warmer, wetter and stormier conditions across the UK and northern Europe during late autumn and early winter which is broadly consistent with the latest seasonal outlook.

The developing El Niño is expected to continue strengthening through autumn before reaching its peak during winter. Current evidence indicates an increased likelihood of wet, windy and potentially stormy conditions later this autumn and into early winter.

But the Met Office warns that El Niño is just one of several climate drivers that can influence the UK’s weather and so does not determine exactly what conditions we are likely to experience.

And it’s not good news as alongside the El Niño event the latest Met Office seasonal outlook suggests an increased likelihood of wetter than average conditions during autumn anyway.

What the Met Office says about flooding in autumn and early winter 2026

In short, flooding could happen anywhere at any time.

The Met Office states: “An increased likelihood of wetter and windier than normal conditions does come with an increased risk of associated impacts such as flooding, although pinning down where these are most likely to be is not possible at this range.’’

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Ian Lisk adds: “The latest seasonal forecasts suggest an increased likelihood of wetter than average conditions as we move through autumn which would be consistent with the historical influence of El Niño events.

“However, El Niño is only one of several factors affecting the UK’s weather and it does not determine exactly what conditions we will experience.’’

It’s best to be always prepared for flooding and many councils, businesses and homeowners rely on the original alternative sandbag the FloodSax.

The FloodSax is unique as it can deal with flooding outside but also, in its dry state, with escapes of water inside.

Everybody is responsible for their own flood prevention as local authorities have no responsibility to provide sandbags or other emergency flood prevention devices in an emergency.

The Environment Agency states: “Don’t assume the authorities will provide you with sandbags in a flood emergency. It’s the responsibility of property owners to take appropriate action to protect their property from flooding. Sandbags are relatively ineffective when compared to purpose-built flood protection products. We strongly encourage people to use these products.”

Many councils recommend FloodSax and you can see what they have to say by clicking here. 

FloodSax are vacuum-packed and when unwrapped resemble a large pillowcase but when they are immersed in water they absorb around 20 litres and retain it, transforming them from being as light as a pillowcase to being more effective than traditional sandbags in around five minutes.

In their dry state FloodSax are super-absorbent yet thin with a large surface area so are highly effective at soaking up drips, leaks, spills and floods inside homes and businesses, especially in hard-to-reach places such as beneath pipes, radiators, sinks and boilers. They also soak up floodwater dripping in through leaky roofs and windows.

A new product called a TubeSax is being launched this autumn designed predominantly to prevent floodwater getting through standard doors.

You can read more about it here.