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Causes The autumn of 2000 was the wettest in England and Wales since 1766., Due to a series of unusually intense and slow- moving depression crossing the country. Rain was 41% above average in South East England. This high rainfall quickly replenished the soil moisture stores from the drier conditions and high evaporation rates of the summer. The high mid- October rainfall was due to very slow moving depression called an ‘anchored low’. Due to a wave in the usually straight upper jet stream it took nearly a week to cross the British Isles. The frontal cyclonic rainfall caused widespread flooding with the worst effects in the South- East, which has the worst floods for 40 years. East Sussex had 255 mm of rainfall in the first twelve days of October. This was 25% more rainfall than the average for the whole month. In early November, the flood misery continued with a mid- latitude depression crossing the British Isles from 4 November. This developed 3000 miles from the country in the area known for the ‘perfect storm’. Impacts There were 12 deaths from floods and a total of £2 billion of damage.