Storm Claudia is set to bring ‘strong gusty winds’ and heavy rain to the UK from Friday, November 14, with the Met Office issuing amber and yellow weather warnings
Storm Claudia is poised to unleash devastating downpours across swathes of England and Wales, prompting the Met Office to issue a crucial alert for residents in the storm’s path.
Rail travellers and motorists have been urged ‘do not travel’ as Storm Claudia winds threaten chaos, with numerous services potentially axed across the country.
The Met Office has rolled out amber weather warnings for rainfall and yellow alerts for wind. Storm Claudia, christened by Spain’s weather service AEMET, is forecast to deliver ‘strong gusty winds’ and relentless downpours to the UK starting Friday, November 14.
Amber alerts for “persistent and heavy” rainfall take effect from 12pm on Friday onwards, encompassing sections of Wales, the Midlands, the South West, the South East and eastern England, reports the Mirror.
Certain areas may face a deluge of 80mm, with Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert warning “some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours”.
Travellers are being urged to exercise extreme caution as vast areas of central and southern England plus Wales brace for a soaking from Friday into Saturday.
The AA has recommended avoiding journeys during the “hazardous weather”, stating: “Safety comes first. Conditions may change quickly, so stay updated and make sure you’re prepared before you travel.”
READ MORE: Brit holiday hotspot battered as Storm Claudia brings risk of torrential rain and flooding
READ MORE: Storm Claudia to batter Britain with month’s worth of rain in 24 hours
The motoring organisation added: “Flood water can appear quickly, and even shallow water can be dangerous – never try to drive through it.”
Senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, Jim Dale, issued a stark warning: “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 and surroundings.”
Train companies nationwide are bracing themselves for the storm, with some services already cancelled in anticipation.
Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, stated: “We’re doing everything we can to prepare the railway for the arrival of Storm Claudia and will have extra staff at key locations across the network, ready to respond if they’re required.”
He urged passengers to check before travelling on Friday and into the weekend, and to take extra care and allow plenty of time to complete their journeys.
National Rail has also advised passengers to check routes before setting off.
The Environment Agency has warned of potential surface water and river flooding in the north of England. It said it has been working closely with emergency services and local authorities to ensure they are fully prepared for when the storm hits on Friday.
Flood duty manager Ben Lukey cautioned: “Storm Claudia will bring heavy prolonged rainfall across parts of England, with significant surface water flooding probable across parts of central England on Friday.
“River flooding impacts are also possible tomorrow and into Saturday.”
#Storm #Claudia #travel #chaos #Brits #warned #90mm #rain #severe #flooding #risks
