Now for the clean-up: Families and businesses begin heartbreaking Storm Claudia flooding repair and recovery in Wales
Families and businesses began a massive cleanup after Storm Claudia flooded many of their villages.
A major incident continues to unfold in Monmouth, south-east Wales, after the River Monnow broke its banks, exposing homes and businesses to unprecedented flooding.
Residents were dramatically rescued or evacuated from their homes on Saturday after overnight flooding submerged much of the town.
A massive clean-up operation is underway and business owners are seen desperately trying to clear large volumes of floodwater.
Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes explained how the community had come together but admitted it was a “really worrying time for residents and businesses”.
He said the town’s current flood defenses needed to be reviewed as the ‘major clean-up’ continued.
Four severe flood warnings remain in place for south-east Wales after the River Monnow reached record levels above Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024; This means there is a ‘danger to life’.
Flooding has continued to rage in England, but England is bracing for the cold with the possibility of snowfall this week.
An 85-year-old British woman died in Portugal after extreme winds from Storm Claudia hit a holiday campsite.
The storm has already dumped powerful wings and heavy rain on Spain and Portugal.
Emergency services assist people stranded on a flooded street in Monmouth, Wales, on November 15
Citizens and business owners started cleaning work after the flood yesterday.
Flood damage in Monmouth, south-east Wales, after dozens of people were rescued from their homes or evacuated from the town
Monmouthshire, South Wales: Streets flooded after heavy rain
In Monmouth, citizens came together to help homeowners and businesses affected by unprecedented flooding.
A church is serving as a drop-off point for donations, local businesses are providing hot meals and the town’s recreation center is open to evacuated people.
Susie Martinez, 42, and her two sons, nine-year-old Louis and five-year-old Joey, had to be rescued from their Monmouth apartment at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
‘We had to climb out the window and get on a boat,’ he said. ‘It was terrible.’
Ms Fookes warned the town needed to reconsider its flood defenses after the major incident.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement, he said: ‘Flood defenses were in a similar situation in 2020 but this flood, this amount of water, came so quickly in a short period of time and was absolutely unprecedented.’
‘I think we now need to reconsider flood defenses due to climate change and the amount of major weather events we face.’
He added: ‘One of the most amazing things when I went to Monmouth leisure center yesterday was the incredible staff and volunteers coming down the street and saying ‘I’ll look after this family, I can take that family’ and people there were seeing friends of their friends pack up and have cats, dogs etc that couldn’t go to hotels. What happened was they took people home.’
This comes as the UK recorded its coldest night since March, with the floods expected to be followed by a cold wave.
The temperature fell to minus 7C at Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands on Saturday night, the lowest since March 20, the Met Office said.
A 5°C drop in temperatures would see highs drop to around 11°C on Sunday and cool further at the start of the week.
Staff banded together to clean up stores in Monmouth after Storm Claudia caused flooding
Three cars were trapped after flooding on Monnow Street on November 15
Citizens and business owners started cleaning up after yesterday’s devastating flood disaster.
A man carries a shovel as a clean-up operation continues in Monmouth
There were dramatic scenes as the Monnow River broke its banks at the weekend
Monmouth MP Ms Fookes warns town needs to rethink flood defenses after major incident
A man cleans the inside of his shop after severe flooding caused by Storm Claudia in Monmouth, Wales
Snow and ice are possible following above-average temperatures, the forecaster said.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: ‘As Storm Claudia retreats southwards, high pressure in the north-west will cause a cold northward flow from the Arctic across the UK.
‘This will bring much colder weather conditions than recent days and, although overall drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of winter hazards such as snow and ice.
‘This will be a notable change in our weather conditions after a long period of above-average temperatures.’
A major incident was declared at Monmouth in south-east Wales over the weekend, where people were rescued or evacuated from homes after they were submerged in Friday’s heavy rain.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issued four serious flood warnings amid fears there could be danger to life, while there were 45 flood warnings in England.
The North Rhine Westphalia rain gauge at Tafalog in Gwent in south-east Wales recorded approximately 119.6mm of rainfall from 12pm to 6am on Saturday, while 80.6mm of rainfall was recorded at Suckley, Worcestershire, during the same period.
The UK Health Safety Agency has issued a cold weather warning for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday, and the Environment Agency has warned that flooding will continue through the weekend.
The cold weather warning will be in force from 8am on Monday until 8am next Friday and covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
