The United Kingdom is facing a dramatic weather shift, moving from severe flooding to a potentially hazardous cold snap. This comes as emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath of Storm Claudia, which brought devastating floods to parts of the country.
Storm Claudia's Devastating Impact
Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish meteorological service, struck the UK on Friday, with a particularly severe impact in Wales. Authorities declared a major incident in the region following intense rainfall. The town of Monmouth in south-east Wales was hit hard when the River Monnow burst its banks, forcing the rescue and evacuation of dozens of people from their homes.
The Met Office recorded staggering rainfall totals, with 119.6mm falling at Tafalog in Gwent and 80.6mm at Suckley in Worcestershire in just 12 hours. Gwent Police, mountain rescue teams, and the Coastguard were among the services involved in the large-scale operation. Peter Fox, the Welsh Conservative MS for Monmouth, described the situation as "extremely bad," noting he hadn't seen flooding so severe in the area for 40 years.
Widespread Disruption and Ongoing Risks
The storm's effects were felt across transport and infrastructure. The railway between Newport and Hereford was closed until Monday, and several stations, including Abergavenny and Pontypool & New Inn, were shut. In the north-west, a fallen tree blocked the railway between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, halting all services.
While floods minister Emma Hardy stated the weather is now "more settled," she warned that a risk of ongoing river flooding remains. The Environment Agency reported that 20 properties in England had flooded, and 50 flood warnings were in place across the country on Saturday afternoon. Natural Resources Wales issued four severe flood warnings, indicating potential danger to life.
Arctic Cold Snap Set to Grip the Nation
As the clear-up from the storm gets underway, a new weather threat is emerging. The Met Office has forecast a cold snap originating from the Arctic, which is expected to bring significantly lower temperatures, frost, and a risk of snow and ice in the coming days.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist Dan Holley explained: "This will bring much colder conditions than of late... There will be widespread frosts across the UK, with temperatures dipping as low as -7°C in places next week." He added that daytime temperatures would stay in single figures, and combined with a "brisk northerly wind," there would be a marked wind chill effect.
In response to the forecast, the UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert for the Midlands and northern England, effective from 8am on Monday until 8am next Friday.
