Weather warnings as Spain’s Storm Claudia reaches UK on Friday | UK weather

Flooding could hit parts of England with forecasters issuing a yellow warning for rain.

Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish meteorological service, will bring heavy showers and strong winds to much of the country on Friday. Up to 8cm of rain could fall in some areas and deep floodwaters could be life-threatening.

The warning will be in effect from noon until the end of the day and covers Wales, the Midlands, the southwest, southeast and east of England.

A separate yellow warning for rain covers much of England, from Cheshire and North Yorkshire to the south coast, for a 24-hour period from 6am on Friday; An additional warning for winds of up to 70 miles per hour is in force from noon until midnight in some western parts of the UK.

The Met Office said Weather conditions can cause power outages, travel disruptions and damage to buildings. Travelers are asked to be careful.

Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to large areas of central and southern England and Wales from Friday to Saturday.

“The rain will move slowly and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rainfall in 24 hours. The majority of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the likelihood of flooding and contributing to the yellow warnings we have issued.

“In the amber warning areas, some could see more than 150mm accumulated during the event; 60-80mm was quite extensive.

“Gusts of wind over the north-west of England and north-west Wales pose an additional danger, with gusts of 60-70mph possible in open areas within the warning area.”

The weather service said that unlike many storms, Storm Claudia is not expected to cross the country directly, but will instead maintain its position in the west.

It was given this name by the Spanish due to the impact that occurred in the Canary Islands this week.

AA advises against traveling in “dangerous weather”, saying: “Safety comes first. Conditions can change quickly, so stay up to date and make sure you are prepared before travelling.”

The statement added: “Flood water can emerge quickly and even shallow water can be dangerous; never attempt to wade through.”

The Environment Agency said the north of England was facing small amounts of surface water and the effects of river flooding. He said he was working with emergency responders and local officials to ensure they were fully prepared when the storm hit Friday.

Ben Lukey, the agency’s flood manager, said: “Storm Claudia on Friday will bring heavy, prolonged rainfall to parts of England, with significant surface water flooding likely across central England.

“The effects of river floods are also possible tomorrow and into Saturday.”

He added: “Environment Agency teams are on site to clear debris from waterways and are preparing to deploy flood defenses where necessary.”

In the north of the country, night frosts are expected from Friday to Sunday, and the weather is expected to get colder.