Emergency services have declared a major incident in Monmouth as the devastating aftermath of Storm Claudia continues to wreak havoc across parts of England and Wales.
Emergency Response in Monmouth
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service took the decisive step of declaring a major incident in the early hours of Saturday morning following what they described as "severe and widespread" flooding throughout Monmouth and surrounding communities. The declaration came as emergency crews faced increasingly challenging conditions throughout the night.
Multiple agencies are now working in coordination to manage the crisis, with South Wales Fire and Rescue joining forces with Gwent Police, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, SARA, Mountain Rescue, the Coastguard, and neighbouring fire and rescue services. Their combined efforts are focused on conducting welfare checks, performing evacuations, and carrying out rescue operations where necessary.
Challenging Conditions and Public Warning
Area Manager Matt Jones highlighted the difficult circumstances facing emergency teams, noting that fast-moving water, blocked roads, and infrastructure pressure were creating significant operational challenges. "This is a large-scale incident, and our crews and partners have been working tirelessly through the night and into today to help those affected," Jones stated.
He expressed gratitude for the professionalism shown by all involved while issuing a stern warning to the public: "I would urge the public to avoid the Monmouth area completely where possible. The flooding is significant, and we need to keep routes clear to allow emergency services to reach the people who need us most."
Jones emphasised that anyone facing immediate danger with threat to life or property should call 999 without hesitation.
Weather Warnings and Forecast
The Environment Agency had issued more than 90 flood warnings across the country by Saturday morning, indicating that flooding was expected in these areas. This comes after a severe amber warning for rain remained in effect until just before midnight on Friday, covering central parts of England and Wales.
According to meteorological data, one rain gauge in Wales recorded more than 60% of the month's average rainfall during the storm period. The Met Office indicates that patchy rain and drizzle will persist across England and Wales, while Northern Ireland and Scotland can expect drier, brighter conditions with some sunny spells.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick warned of a significant temperature drop following the rainfall: "Overnight Saturday and throughout the course of Sunday, we will start to see winds changing to be a bit more northerly, introducing a lot of Arctic air. Things are starting to turn less stormy, a bit brighter, but it's going to be feeling a lot colder."
The UK Health Security Agency has already issued a cold weather warning for parts of the Midlands and northern England effective from Monday November 17 until Friday November 21, covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and The Humber.
Travel disruption is expected to continue throughout Saturday, with National Rail advising passengers to check before travelling. Roadside assistance companies reported exceptionally high callout volumes on Friday as the storm's impact intensified.
