The latest storm to affect the UK will see extremely heavy rainfall and fast winds on Friday, as the Met Office issues amber warnings for chunks of England and Wales
Britain braces itself for a full-on weather battering as Storm Claudia draws in from the Atlantic and forecasters are already warning of chaos on the roads, downed power lines and rising floodwaters.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings for large swathes of England and Wales from midday Friday, with the threat of 60-80mm of rain becoming fairly widespread, and some unlucky spots possibly seeing over 150mm. Ground already saturated by earlier downpours means the risk of flash flooding is much higher than usual.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday. This rain will become slow moving, and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.”
According to forecasters at Ventusky, at least 12 cities across the middle of England and in South Wales will see particularly rainfall by 12pm on Friday. These include:
- Cardiff
- Hereford
- Gloucester
- Worcester
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Oxford
- Leicester
- Milton Keynes
- Peterborough
- Cambridge
- Norwich
The warnings aren’t just about rain, though. Gusts of up to 80mph are expected in exposed parts of northwest England and Wales, adding wind-risk to the mix.
Manchester will see the huge winds by 7pm tomorrow evening, according to According to Ventusky. While slightly further north in the city of Preston, speeds of up to 77mph are expected at the same time.
What this means for Brits is to expect long delays on train services, roads that turn into rivers and homes in vulnerable spots being threatened by rising water. The Environment Agency has cautioned that even 30cm of flowing water could float a car.
For those planning travel or errands on Friday, it is worth reconsidering if you really have to make the journey. Those in homes with any history of flooding should be ready. Remember to check flood kits, move valuables upstairs, and keep an eye on local updates. The Met Office is urging everyone to stay “#WeatherAware”.
While British Weather Services’ senior meteorologist Jim Dale told The Mirror: “Just to add to the pile, and before the colder weather kicks in, the rains of this evening, overnight into Friday, and through into early Saturday will be heavy and continuous for large parts of England and Wales, south of Cumbria/North Yorkshire.
“There could be between 60-90mm in some places, and widespread flooding is expected along with hazardous driving conditions – windy, too. Amber warnings were issued by us for the M4 corridor & surroundings.”
In short, Storm Claudia isn’t just a name but a serious soak-and-gust event that could turn Friday into a day of disruption. Keep your umbrella handy, your eyes on the weather updates and above all, steer clear of standing water.