The West Midlands is grappling with the significant aftermath of Storm Claudia, which brought heavy rain and powerful winds to the region.
Widespread Disruption Across the Region
Birmingham and the Black Country faced the brunt of the severe weather on Friday, November 14. The Met Office had issued a rare amber rain alert for Birmingham, while a yellow rain warning covered the wider West Midlands area until 6am on Saturday.
Key roads were severely affected by flooding, with dramatic footage showing Stratford Road in Sparkhill, Belle Vale in Halesowen, and Wolverhampton Road in Oldbury completely submerged. Vehicles were seen navigating the deep water, creating ripples across the surface.
Transport Chaos and School Shutdown
The storm's impact extended to the transport network, with trees falling onto railway lines. Services were disrupted in Sutton Coldfield and on the route between Rugeley Trent Valley and Walsall. Network Rail teams were deployed to clear the debris and restore services.
In the education sector, Tudor Grange Academy Kinghurst announced a partial closure for Monday and Tuesday after water penetrated one of its school blocks. The school's executive principal stated, "With more heavy rain forecast over the coming days, we are taking precautionary steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff." They confirmed they are working with health and safety advisors and roofing contractors to assess the damage.
A Colder Outlook
The intense weather is expected to subside in the coming days. The Met Office forecast for Sunday, November 16, predicts a dull start with drizzle slowly clearing, giving way to drier and brighter conditions. However, a colder spell is on the way.
From Monday to Wednesday, November 17-19, the forecast indicates a cold and frosty start on Monday with sunshine. There is a risk of rain, sleet, and even hill snow on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with overnight frosts likely.
