Major Incident Declared After Storm Claudia Unleashes Flooding
Emergency services across the UK are grappling with the aftermath of Storm Claudia, which has caused severe flooding and prompted the declaration of a major incident in parts of Wales. The storm, named by the Spanish meteorological service, struck the UK on Friday, with its most devastating impact felt in Wales.
Record River Levels and Widespread Rescues
In the town of Monmouth, south-east Wales, dozens of people were rescued from their homes or evacuated after the River Monnow burst its banks. The situation was described as "extremely bad" by local officials, with river levels exceeding those recorded during both Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert last year.
Rainfall figures were staggering. A Natural Resources Wales rain gauge at Tafalog in Gwent recorded 119.6mm of rainfall in the 12 hours to 6am on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Met Office reported 80.6mm fell in Suckley, Worcestershire, over the same period.
The Environment Agency confirmed that 20 properties in England had flooded, including some in Cumbria, with 50 flood warnings remaining in place across England on Saturday afternoon.
Arctic Blast Brings Snow and Sub-Zero Temperatures
As cleanup operations begin, forecasters are warning of a dramatic shift in weather. A cold snap originating from the Arctic is expected to bring snow, ice, and significantly lower temperatures to the UK in the coming days.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley stated: "This will bring much colder conditions than of late and, whilst generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice."
He added: "There will be widespread frosts across the UK, with temperatures dipping as low as -7°C in places next week, and daytime temperatures staying in single figures across the country. Couple this with a brisk northerly wind, and there will be a marked wind chill."
Transport Chaos and Ongoing Disruption
The storm's impact on infrastructure has been substantial. Transport for Wales reported that the railway between Newport and Hereford will remain closed until Monday, with ongoing disruption between Hereford and Shrewsbury.
In north-west Wales and north-west England, punishing winds were recorded, including 63mph at Aberdaron in Gwynedd and 68mph at Warcop Range in Cumbria. A fallen tree blocking the railway between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport meant no trains were running on that route on Saturday.
The Welsh Government issued a statement acknowledging the "significant flooding" affecting "homes, businesses, transport and energy infrastructure" and urged people to follow official advice from emergency services and local authorities.
Natural Resources Wales has imposed four severe flood warnings amid fears there may be danger to life, while the UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday.
