Storm Claudia floods Monmouth; major incident declared

Monmouth woke to floodwater across its high street after Storm Claudia pushed the River Monnow over its banks. South Wales Fire and Rescue declared a major incident at 01:30 GMT on Saturday 15 November, with crews rescuing people, carrying out welfare checks and moving families to safety alongside Gwent Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service. BBC Wales reported around 85 flood-related call-outs overnight.

Let’s pause on the phrase you’ll hear a lot today: “major incident”. In practice, it means emergency services switch to a joined-up command structure so they can share information fast, allocate boats, pumps and crews where they’re most needed, and open rest centres. In Monmouth that’s involved fire and rescue teams working with police, ambulance services, mountain rescue and the coastguard through the night.

Natural Resources Wales issued four severe flood warnings for Monmouth on Saturday morning, which is the highest level and signals a danger to life. Those warnings cover the River Wye at Monmouth and the River Monnow at several locations. Local officials asked people not to travel as standing water and fast flows made routes unsafe.

England has also seen widespread disruption. By Saturday afternoon, the Environment Agency reported around 50 flood warnings and more than a hundred alerts, and said about 20 properties had flooded, including some in Cumbria. Agency teams have been clearing debris, operating defences and putting up temporary barriers to protect communities.

Why has this been so intense? The Met Office said some places could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, and gauges later confirmed 119.6mm in Gwent and 80.6mm in Worcestershire, with 68mph gusts recorded in the north-west. On water safety, the Environment Agency reminds us that as little as 30cm of fast‑moving water can float a car-so turning around is the safest choice.

From Monday, the weather shifts from wet to wintry. The UK Health Security Agency has issued cold‑weather alerts for parts of northern England and the Midlands through Friday, while the Met Office expects widespread frosts, a marked wind‑chill and some snow over higher ground. If you have older neighbours or anyone with a long‑term condition nearby, check in on them.

Travel has been difficult and, for some routes, unsafe. Network Rail advised people not to travel between London Paddington and Bristol or South Wales on Friday, while National Rail flagged reduced timetables and cancellations on other lines as flooding and fallen trees blocked tracks. Always check live updates before you set off.

Events have felt the impact too. The Lapland Manchester attraction at Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield evacuated visitors as high winds and falling trees made the site unsafe, while, after an early inspection, racing at Cheltenham went ahead on Saturday on heavy ground with route adjustments to avoid waterlogged sections.

You’ll hear stories that bring the maps to life. BBC Wales described a family who climbed on to the roof of their car and held on to a tree until rescuers reached them, and a councillor who said he hadn’t seen flooding this bad locally for decades. These accounts help us remember why advice to avoid floodwater is more than a slogan.

A quick media‑literacy note on the storm’s name. Storm Claudia wasn’t named by the Met Office but by Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET; the UK uses the name to keep public messaging consistent across borders. The same system brought heavy rain and strong winds to Spain and Portugal earlier this week before the worst reached Wales and England.

Finally, context. Even with days like this, England heads into winter with rainfall deficits. The Environment Agency warns that, without a wet winter, parts of the country could face widespread drought in 2026; officials point to only about 83% of average rainfall from January to October and a record‑dry spring. Heavy bursts can still cause flash floods on hard, dry ground, so we prepare for both. If you’re in an at‑risk area, sign up for flood warnings, follow local advice, and plan journeys with care; British Red Cross teams are on standby to support when asked by local authorities.