England flood risk after Storm Claudia, EA warns

Here’s the straight picture for Saturday 15 November 2025. The Environment Agency says flood risk in parts of England remains even though the Met Office has stood down its rain and wind warnings. After Storm Claudia’s heavy rain, some larger rivers could still cause minor flooding into early next week, with impacts possible through Tuesday.

At 11:55am today, officials reported 58 Flood Warnings-where flooding is expected-and 150 Flood Alerts-where flooding is possible. Twenty properties have flooded so far, including some in Cumbria, while flood defences and Environment Agency actions have protected more than 12,000 properties.

You’ll see two phrases used a lot: Flood Alert and Flood Warning. Think of an alert as ‘be prepared’-watch river levels, pack essentials, check travel. A warning means ‘act now’-move valuables up high, follow your flood plan, and be ready to leave if asked. If you’re unsure, treat it as a warning and put safety first.

You can check a postcode on the official GOV.UK service and sign up for free flood warnings by call, text or email. The quickest route is to search ‘check my flood risk’ and go to the Environment Agency pages. It takes a minute and covers addresses across England, including homes, workplaces and schools.

If you meet flood water, don’t drive through it. The Environment Agency says around 30cm of flowing water can lift a car. Pick another route and keep speeds low near standing water to avoid pushing waves into homes.

Rivers respond slowly after intense rain because ground and drains are already saturated, so water keeps feeding into main channels even when the sky clears. That’s why you might still see reports of minor flooding after the storm has passed, especially along bigger rivers.

If a warning lands on your phone, move important items upstairs, keep medicines, chargers and warm clothes in a ready-to-go bag, and check on neighbours who might need help. Charge power banks, bring pets indoors and know how to switch off gas, electricity and water. For danger to life, call 999.

Environment Agency teams are out clearing debris from screens, inspecting defences and putting up temporary barriers where needed. Floods Minister Emma Hardy says crews are working with councils and emergency services to reduce further impacts, and she repeats the advice to avoid driving through flood water.

Teachers and students can turn this into a quick learning task: plot your school or home postcode on the flood map, check the nearest gauge, then write a simple ‘if this, then that’ plan for getting home safely. It builds confidence and media literacy-read the official data, not rumours.

For official updates, follow the Environment Agency on X and refresh GOV.UK flooding pages. The latest government update on Storm Claudia was posted on Saturday 15 November 2025. Always check local advice before travelling.