Storm Claudia map: Where 150mm of rain could fall today as Met Office weather warnings issued across UK
Storm Claudia is set to hit the UK today, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings and predicting heavy rains will cause flooding and disruption across the country.
Amber warnings remain in effect from noon to midnight Friday; 50 to 75 mm of rain is expected for Wales, and 40 to 60 mm for the East Midlands, east of England, London and south-east England, north-west England, south-west England, Wales and the West Midlands.
Around 20 flood alerts and 33 flood warnings have also been flagged as Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish Meteorological Service, moves towards the UK.
A 24-hour yellow weather warning has also been issued for the southern part of the country from 6 am on Friday.
There is currently a yellow rain warning for central, Tayside and Fife, north-east England, north-west England, south-west Scotland and Strathclyde until 7pm on Thursday. A total of 15 to 25 mm of rain is expected; There is the potential for around 40 to 60 mm of rainfall in some areas in southern Scotland.
Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large area of central and southern England and Wales from Friday to Saturday. This rain will move slowly and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.”
“Many of these will fall on saturated ground, increasing the likelihood of flooding and contributing to the yellow warnings we have issued.
“Some in amber warning areas may see more than 150mm accumulate, with 60-80mm expected during the event. High winds in the north-west of England and north-west Wales pose an additional danger, with gusts of 60-70mph possible in exposed locations within the warning area.”
In areas under an amber warning, the Met Office warns that fast-flowing or deep floodwaters are likely and could be life-threatening.
Homes and businesses are expected to be flooded, and the weather agency has also warned of travel disruptions and power outages in affected areas.
It was stated that the effects could be worsened by strong easterly winds as well as thunderstorms arriving on Friday afternoon.
Alun Attwood, Natural Resources Wales, said: “We are urging people to be careful and be prepared for potential flooding. You can check if you live in an area at risk of flooding on our website and sign up to our free flood warning service.
“We do not issue flood warnings for flooding from surface water, so it is important for everyone to know the risk of flooding.”
According to the Met Office, the UK weather forecast for next week is as follows:
Today
A very wet day with a strong easterly wind developing in parts of England and Wales. A cooler day for Scotland and Northern Ireland with sunshine and scattered showers.
Outlook from Saturday to Monday
The south and central parts are mostly cloudy and humid on Saturday, but cooler and clearer conditions will spread southwards further north on Sunday. Monday is cold and bright for many.
