A tragic incident in Portugal and severe flooding in Wales have marked the passage of Storm Claudia, which brought extreme weather conditions across parts of Europe.
Fatalities and Damage in Southern Portugal
An 85-year-old British woman has died after Storm Claudia struck a holiday campsite in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. A regional commander confirmed the fatality, noting that dozens of other people were injured by what were described as "extreme winds".
According to media reports from the area, the woman was first reported missing at the campsite before her body was later discovered. Portugal's Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, expressed his "heartfelt condolences" to the woman's family, who have not been publicly named. He stated that officials had responded to the emergency "with full commitment and the greatest possible speed" but acknowledged that "serious consequences could not be avoided."
Devastating Impact in Wales
Simultaneously, the storm, which was named by the Spanish meteorological service, hit the UK on Friday. It caused devastating floods in Monmouthshire, South Wales, prompting authorities to declare a major incident.
In the town of Monmouth, the River Monnow burst its banks, leading to severe flooding. Dozens of people required rescue from their homes or had to be evacuated. Peter Fox, the Welsh Conservative MS for Monmouth, described the situation as "extremely bad," adding, "I personally haven’t seen it so bad for probably 40 years, certainly in Monmouth since defences were put in place there."
Record Rainfall and Widespread Warnings
The Met Office provided startling rainfall figures. A Natural Resources Wales rain gauge at Tafalog in Gwent recorded 119.6 mm of rainfall in the 12 hours leading up to 6am on Saturday. Similarly, 80.6mm was recorded in Suckley, Worcestershire.
By 10am on Saturday, the Environment Agency had issued a significant number of alerts for England, including 86 flood warnings and 190 flood alerts. The storm was not limited to rain; powerful winds also battered north-west Wales and north-west England. Aberdaron in Gwynedd saw gusts of 63mph, while Warcop Range in Cumbria experienced 68mph winds.
The Welsh Government released a statement confirming that Storm Claudia has caused significant flooding affecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and urged the public to follow official advice. Monmouthshire County Council advised people to avoid unnecessary travel due to multiple road closures and the ongoing emergency operation. National Rail also warned passengers in England and Wales to check for disruptions before travelling.
A Cold Snap to Follow
As the storm subsides, forecasters warn of a dramatic change in weather. A cold snap is expected to bring frost and snow to the UK as Arctic winds cause a sharp drop in temperatures.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge told The Independent, "It’s certainly going to turn much colder over the next couple of days, there will be an 8 to 10 degree drop in temperature... We will probably see our first widespread countrywide frost on Monday morning." He indicated that the coldest temperatures could plunge to between -5C and -7C.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather warning for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday, while the Environment Agency has cautioned that flooding may continue throughout the weekend.
