2011: What a bad start

Aside from economic gloom, 2011 is already set a record for disaster and flooding.

On top of the major devastation of Australia, Brazil and Sri Lanka being underwater, flood alerts have today been announced for Wales.

Reports today say that three flood warnings are in place across Wales following heavy rain overnight.

Three rivers are on flood alert in the south Wales Valleys and parts of west and mid Wales, while firefighters have been called to deal with incidents of flooding in homes in the south and mid Wales.

In Sri Lanka more than 300,000 people have been forced out of their homes by flooding with no sign of a let-up in the torrential downpour continuing to lash the island nation's east coast.

People were killed by mudslides today, bringing the death toll now to hundreds. More than 1 million people have been affected by the rains and 325,000 hace been made homeless.

Brazil - A string of Brazil's mountain towns devastated by floods and landslides, as the death toll from the disaster reached at least 361.

Heavy rains this week triggered some of the deadliest landslides in Brazilian history, sending mud sweeping through three towns and burying entire families as they slept.

In one local town 146 deaths have been confirmed, but local authorities expect that figure to rise; and in another at least 155 bodies have so far been recovered.

Australia - Eight people have died and scores were missing in Brisbane after giant flash floods smashed through the area like an "inland tsunami", dramatically escalating the widespread flood crisis.

The flooding in the state of Queensland – the worst in Australia for half a century – began before Christmas and has affected a region the size of France and Germany combined. Many are dead and 200,000 residents have been affected.

Victoria - The same weather system that has deluged Queensland and Brisbane is set to bring further downpours in Victoria and major flood warnings are in place.

We in London have been warned that the Thames is at some point due to break its barrier - Please God let it not be this year.