Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish meteorological service, is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the UK on Friday, with an amber warning issued for parts of England and Wales. The storm, which has already battered the Canary Islands, could cause flooding and pose a danger to life in some areas.
The amber warning, in place from noon until midnight, covers parts of Wales, the Midlands, the south-west, the south-east and the east of England. Up to 80mm of rain is expected in some areas, with the Met Office warning of deep floodwater, power cuts, travel disruption and damage to buildings.
A separate yellow warning for rain covers much of England from 6am on Friday for 24 hours, while a wind warning for gusts of up to 70mph is in place from noon until midnight for western areas. The Met Office's chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: 'Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday. This rain will become slow moving and some areas could see up to a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.'
The Environment Agency has warned of significant surface water flooding across parts of central England, with river flooding also possible. Flood duty manager Ben Lukey said teams are clearing debris and preparing to operate flood defences. The AA has advised against travelling in hazardous weather, urging drivers never to attempt to drive through flood water.
Unlike many named storms, Claudia is not expected to cross the country directly but will remain in the west. In the north, colder weather with overnight frosts is expected from Friday to Sunday.
