Wales is bracing for a tough end to the week as Storm Claudia prepares to reach across the country, bringing hours of grim downfall and the threat of flooding, particularly in the south.
The Met Office has issued amber rainfall warnings for a corridor of England and Wales from early Friday, with wider unheroic cautions in place for both rain and strong winds.
Although named by Spain’s public meteorological service after causing dislocation in the Canary Islands, the storm is anticipated to have its major impact then at home as it travels northwards.
Natural coffers Wales formerly has further than 20 flood tide cautions in force, and foretellers are advising residents to be prepared for a spell of largely unsettled rainfall.
The storm is also expected to bring severe gusts in other parts of the UK, with early reports of potential 80mph winds already emerging in some regions.
Where the Worst of the Weather Will Hit?
Southern and central areas of Wales are read to take the mass of the cloudbursts, with the ensuing locales stressed as utmost at threat of delicate conditions and implicit flooding:
- Blaenau Gwent
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
Foretellers say downfall intensity shown on Met Office maps will range from light blue for gentler rain to red for the heaviest and most patient cloudbursts.
Hour-by-Hour Weather Outlook
Friday Afternoon
From 1pm, Storm Claudia is expected to reach full strength over Wales, with many areas seeing 0.5–1mm of rain.
Heavier bursts of 2 – 4 mm are anticipated around Cardiff, Llantwit Major, Burry Port and Monmouth. Pembroke, Knighton and Newton could see summations of 4 – 8 mm, while the heaviest rain, 8 – 16 mm, is likely around Abergavenny and Hay- on- Wye.
By 2 pm, the heavier rain spreads northeast. A wide unheroic zone stretches from Pontypridd, through Abergavenny and Monmouth, and over towards Ludlow and Newton, marking 4 – 8 mm of downfall.
An orange strip showing 8–16mm is set to develop from Cardiff up towards Merthyr and across to Hay-on-Wye.
At 3pm, intense rain pushes further west, covering Swansea, Pembroke, St David’s and Cardigan. Forecasters expect isolated spots of red on the map, signalling 16–32mm east of Merthyr.
By 4pm, rain becomes slightly lighter in pockets of the south, Cardiff, Pembroke, Aberystwyth and Monmouth may drop back to 0.5–1mm, while Swansea and Llandovery are likely to see 2–4mm, with 4–8mm persisting across mid Wales towards Wrexham.
Friday Evening
From 5 pm, the worst cloudbursts move north, affecting mid and north Wales, including Welshpool, Oswestry and Ruthin, where 4 – 8 mm is anticipated.
Meanwhile, southern littoral areas such as Swansea, Maesteg and Hereford will see lighter rain of 0.5 – 1 mm, with Brecon and Pontypridd picking up 2 – 4 mm.
At 6 pm, rain begins to ease around Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Ystradgynlais, with only patchy showers remaining. The heaviest bursts at this time are read near Monmouth, Caernarfon and St Asaph.
From 7pm, western areas such as St David’s, Fishguard and Cardigan should see clearer skies. But new rain moves in from the south, with a fresh band of red indicating 16–32mm approaching Cardiff from the Bristol Channel. Elsewhere, most places will experience between 0.5–4mm.
By 8pm, similar conditions remain. Heavier Downfall of 16 – 32 mm is anticipated between Cardiff and Newport, while Abergavenny, Newport and areas stretching towards Welshpool and Bala are likely to see 2 – 4 mm.
Between 9 pm and 10 pm, rain in the north will begin to ease off, but places similar to Builth Wells and Merthyr may see a blend of 2 – 16 mm. Llandovery, Lampeter and Abergavenny can also anticipate unsettled and changeable conditions.
From 11 pm to night, most of Wales will witness lighter rain, though areas including Cardigan and Machynlleth could still see 2 – 4 mm in heavier patches.
Council Closures and Public Safety Warnings
Original authorities have started closing installations and issuing safety advice due to the worsening rainfall. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has verified the following closures:
Friday, 14 November
- Grass pitches: CLOSED
- Ynysangharad War Memorial Park: CLOSED from 12pm
- Treforest Community Recycling Centre: CLOSED from 12pm
- Gas Road Car Park, Pontypridd: CLOSED from 5pm
- Henry Street Car Park, Mountain Ash: Vehicles advised to leave by 5pm
Saturday, 15 November
- Grass pitches: CLOSED
- Lido: CLOSED
- Cemeteries and Crematoria: CLOSED
- Ynysangharad War Memorial Park: TBC
- Treforest Community Recycling Centre: TBC
The AA is prompting motorists to avoid travelling where possible, advising that “safety comes first” and reminding drivers that conditions “may change quickly.” They stress that, indeed, shallow floodwater can be dangerous and should in no way be driven through.
The Environment Agency says the corridor of northern England is currently seeing minor flooding. brigades are working with exigency services and councils to prepare for further impacts as the storm tracks north.
Flood duty manager Ben Lukey said: “Storm Claudia will bring heavy, prolonged rainfall across parts of England, with significant surface water flooding probable across central regions on Friday. River flooding is also possible tomorrow and into Saturday.”
He added: “Environment Agency teams are on the ground clearing debris from watercourses and are ready to operate flood defences as needed.”
