Met Office warns Storm Claudia may unleash dangerous flooding across Wales and southern England
Storm Claudia is set to unleash torrential rainfall across parts of Britain, with forecasters warning that up to a month’s worth of rain could fall within just twenty-four hours. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning covering wide areas of Wales, the Midlands, and southern England as emergency services prepare for a period of fast and deep flooding that could present a danger to life.
Although Storm Claudia will not cross directly over the United Kingdom, its influence will be felt strongly as its system drives a prolonged spell of heavy rain across the country on Friday and Saturday. The storm was named by the Spanish meteorological service after causing significant disruption in the Canary Islands and regions of southern Spain.
The amber warning runs from midday on Friday until early Saturday morning and stretches across Wales, the south west, the south east and parts of eastern England. The Met Office has urged people to remain cautious, warning that the weather could lead to damaged buildings, power cuts and serious travel disruption.
Rail passengers have already been told to expect chaos. Avanti West Coast said it will run a reduced timetable and warned that journeys will be slower due to speed restrictions imposed by Network Rail. The operator said further disruption is likely across the network as extreme weather hits the North West.
Northern Rail has taken an even stronger stance and urged passengers not to travel on Friday. The company warned of major disruption, long delays and severe overcrowding as rainfall intensifies through the day.
Alongside the amber alert, a wider yellow warning covers a large swathe of the country from Cheshire and North Yorkshire right down to the south coast. The prolonged rainfall is expected to linger over central and southern regions, increasing the risk of widespread flooding.
Matthew Lehnert, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said Storm Claudia would bring very heavy and slow-moving rain across central and southern England and Wales. He warned that some areas could see an entire month’s worth of rainfall in just one day. He added that much of the rain will fall on saturated ground, which dramatically increases the chances of dangerous floods.
Gusty winds add another threat. Parts of north west England and north west Wales may see gusts of up to seventy miles per hour in exposed locations, creating hazardous conditions for travellers and those living near vulnerable structures.
Oli Claydon, deputy head of news at the Met Office, said the heaviest band of rain will sweep in from the south west. He warned that parts of south west Wales could see more than one hundred and fifty millimetres of rain during the unsettled spell. Parts of England could see up to eighty millimetres. Claydon said communities may be cut off by flooded roads and that emergency planning teams are on alert.
Forecasters and road safety experts emphasised that travel must be approached with extreme caution. The AA reminded drivers that floodwater can be extremely dangerous even when it appears shallow. The organisation said motorists should never attempt to drive through floodwater and urged people to stay updated with weather advice before setting out.
In the northern parts of the UK, conditions are expected to turn sharply colder with overnight frosts from Friday through to Sunday. While much of England and Wales battles heavy rain, Scotland and northern England are likely to face freezing nights and a risk of icy patches.
Storm Claudia marks the latest in a series of severe weather events to sweep across Britain this autumn. With saturated ground, swollen rivers and travel networks already under pressure, the coming days are expected to test emergency services and transport operators once again.