BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty delivered a stark warning to viewers during Saturday's broadcast, detailing the widespread disruption and a looming cold health alert in the wake of Storm Claudia.
Immediate Fallout from the Storm
As the programme began on Saturday, November 15, Naga Munchetty and co-host Charlie Stayt informed the nation that the fallout from Storm Claudia is expected to continue throughout the weekend. The storm had brought torrential rain and significant flooding to parts of the UK on Friday.
Naga explained that an amber warning for rain had been in place until the early hours, with some regions experiencing a month's worth of rainfall in a single day. A pre-recorded segment from BBC correspondent Barry Caffrey showcased the severity of the situation, with footage of submerged vehicles and residents navigating floodwater.
Major Travel Disruption Across Rail Networks
Reporting live from Euston Station in London, Barry Caffrey outlined the extensive impact on the country's transport infrastructure. He confirmed that more rain was expected throughout Saturday, leading to ongoing travel disruption.
National Rail had warned of expected delays and cancellations across the weekend. Naga specified the affected operators, stating: "London Northwestern Railway, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway are all experiencing disruption. There's huge disruption on Great Western Railway."
She detailed specific problem areas, including flooding outside Exeter St Davids and issues on the lines between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, and Bath Spa and Chippenham. Services in Wales, TransPennine Express, and various northern services were also facing expected disruptions.
Barry added that speed restrictions, along with debris and fallen trees on rail lines, would inevitably cause significant delays.
A New Cold Health Alert Issued
Beyond the immediate travel chaos, a new official warning was issued. While the rain warnings had expired, the Environment Agency cautioned that ongoing flooding was likely.
More concerningly, a yellow cold health alert was activated for the coming week. This alert covers the Midlands and large parts of Northern England, urging Britons to brace for a drop in temperatures following the intense rainfall.
Barry Caffrey issued a direct plea to the public, urging them to be prepared for delays and cancellations and to always check with their railway provider before setting out on any journeys.
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am.
