Storm Claudia brought amber weather warnings for heavy rain across parts of England and Wales from Friday, with the Met Office warning of potential flooding and travel disruption.
Authorities closed schools and services as the storm prompted over 20 flood alerts across Wales.
Matthew Lehnert, Met Office chief meteorologist, said "some areas could see up to a month's worth of rain in 24 hours". He warned: "Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the amber warnings we have issued. Within the amber warning areas, some could see in excess of 150mm accumulate during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely."
The amber warnings cover parts of Wales, the Midlands, the South West, the South East, and the east of England from noon Friday until the end of the day. Forecasters expect rainfall of up to 80mm in some areas of England, while higher ground in Wales could see 100-150mm.
School and Service Closures
Caerphilly Council closed Idris Davies School following a full risk assessment. The council stated: "Recent flooding has affected the school site, local routes to and from the school, and conditions are expected to worsen."
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council confirmed multiple closures for Friday and Saturday, including grass pitches, Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, and the Treforest Community Recycling Centre. Storms have hit the area hard in recent years.
Flood Warnings and Travel Advice
Natural Resources Wales issued flood alerts identifying nine areas where authorities expect flooding - including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Torfaen. Ben Lukey, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Storm Claudia will bring heavy prolonged rainfall across parts of England, with significant surface water flooding probable across parts of central England on Friday. River flooding impacts are also possible tomorrow and into Saturday."
Weather expert Jim Dale told the Mirror: "People should not ignore the warnings that are out there."
The Automobile Association (AA) advised: "Safety comes first. Conditions may change quickly, so stay updated and make sure you're prepared before you travel." The motoring organization emphasized: "Flood water can appear quickly, and even shallow water can be dangerous – never try to drive through it."
Forecasters predict strong easterly winds of up to 70mph for some western areas, with gusts of 60-70mph possible in exposed places in north-west England and north-west Wales.
Spain's national meteorological service named Storm Claudia following its earlier impact on the Canary Islands.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
