Storm Claudia brought significant disruption across England and Wales on Friday, November 14th/15th, delivering up to a month's worth of rain in a single day, accompanied by strong winds and widespread flooding concerns. Named by the Spanish Meteorological Agency, the storm had already impacted Spain and Portugal before reaching the UK.

The Met Office issued multiple severe weather warnings, including amber warnings for “persistent and heavy” rain effective from noon on Friday until midnight. These covered parts of Wales, the Midlands, the South-West, the South-East, and East of England. In England, some areas were expected to receive 80mm of rain, while parts of Wales could see 100-150mm on higher ground or 50-75mm generally. Within the amber warning areas, some locations accumulated in excess of 150mm, with 60-80mm falling widely. A broader yellow warning for rain encompassed much of England, from Cheshire and North Yorkshire to the south coast, for a 24-hour period from 6am on Friday. Additionally, yellow wind warnings were in place for western UK areas, with gusts up to 70mph, particularly in exposed places in North-West England and North-West Wales, exacerbated by strong easterly winds and potential thunderstorms.

The Environment Agency (EA), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issued numerous flood warnings and alerts. The EA had three flood warnings in place in North-West England (including Keswick and Carlisle) and over 100 alerts across the country, highlighting significant surface water and probable river flooding, especially across central England. SEPA issued a flood warning for Glen Lyon in Perthshire and seven alerts, while NRW had 20-21 flood alerts. Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert noted that much of the rain fell on already saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding.

The severe weather caused extensive travel chaos. National Rail warned of widespread disruption, with flooding between Exeter and Barnstaple in Devon affecting train services until Sunday. Several train operators, including Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway, Northern, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Railway, ran reduced services, and emergency speed restrictions were implemented in Scotland. In Greater Manchester, tram services between Bury and Whitefield were halted due to a tree on the overhead line, following an earlier fault at Exchange Square tram stop. The AA and RAC advised motorists against non-essential travel in the hazardous conditions, emphasizing the danger of driving through floodwater, while the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged caution and adherence to safety guidelines.

Beyond travel, Storm Claudia led to several cancellations and closures. The popular Christmas at Dunham Massey lights trail in Greater Manchester was called off for its opening night on November 14th. In Herefordshire, at least nine schools were closed. Several golf courses, including Hartford Golf Centre in Cheshire and Alfreton Golf Club in Derbyshire, also shut down. Tatton Park announced partial closures of various areas, including woodlands and parts of its gardens. Floods minister Emma Hardy confirmed that the Environment Agency, local authorities, and emergency services were actively working to keep communities safe.

Unlike many named storms, Claudia was not expected to directly cross the UK but rather maintain its position to the west, with its associated fronts weakening into Saturday. Looking ahead, the UK is bracing for a dramatic shift in weather, with temperatures expected to plunge and Arctic air taking hold by the weekend. This change will bring a noticeably colder spell, with an increased chance of widespread snowfall, particularly in the North initially, potentially affecting the entire country by the middle of next week.