Cauliflower shortages are expected in UK supermarkets due to a significant loss of crops caused by extreme weather conditions. The outbreak of freezing temperatures in December and January has resulted in a 40% loss of the UK's cauliflower crop, with some growers in Lincolnshire experiencing up to half of their harvest lost. This loss is part of a series of challenges, including drought, flooding, and cold weather, that have affected the crop since planting, making it a 'perfect storm' of adverse conditions.