What will happen in the South West Region?
• The region is becoming warmer and by the 2050s average temperatures may be as much as 3.5oC warmer in summer • High summer temperatures are becoming more frequent, and very cold winters are becoming increasingly rare • Winters are becoming wetter (a 5 – 20% increase is expected by the 2050s), whilst summers are becoming drier (10 – 40% decrease by the 2050s) • The relative sea level continues to rise, and could be as much as 76 cm higher by the 2080s • Changes to insurance costs and coverage are expected, in particular in vulnerable geographic areas or economic sectors • Loss of habitats and indigenous species could occur as well as longer growing seasons and increased potential for novel agricultural crops.
