Potential for severe flood impacts from Storm Claudia
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is warning people of the risk of significant river and surface water flooding today as Storm Claudia hits Wales (14 November), with particular concern for South East Wales and Powys, where flood impacts could be severe.
An amber rain warning from the Met Office will be in force from midday today until midnight, covering Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Monmouthshire. A yellow rain warning covering the majority of Wales has been in force since 6am this morning, and will remain in place until 6am Saturday morning.
The heavy, persistent and slow-moving rainfall has the potential to lead to severe flooding in South East Wales and Powys. With the highest rainfall expected during the early evening hours, we are urging people to stay safe.
Rainfall associated with today’s weather system is moving in from the South East. This means the heaviest rain is likely to fall lower down in catchments across southeast Wales and Powys. As a result, smaller watercourses in these areas face the greatest immediate risk of flooding today and overnight. Larger rivers may respond over the coming days as water flows down the catchment.
With river levels high and ground saturated following the recent rainfall, many Flood Warnings are expected today and overnight.
Whilst the worst of the rainfall is likely to be over South East Wales and Powys, people in other parts of Wales should also be prepared for impacts check local weather forecasts.
NRW teams have been working around the clock to help communities be prepared – monitoring river levels, issuing warnings, checking and deploying defences, and making sure drainage grids and screens are clear.
Sally Davies, Duty Tactical Manager Wales at NRW, said:
“Storm Claudia is expected to bring persistent and slow moving rainfall across all of Wales, but will be extremely heavy in parts of South East Wales and Powys. This could lead to severe flooding in these areas.
“We’re expecting the heaviest rain to fall lower down in catchments across these areas. This means smaller streams and watercourses in these parts are at the greatest immediate risk of flooding today and overnight.
“There is also the risk of flooding from rivers slower to respond to rain falling higher up in the catchment. As such, we could continue to see impacts over the coming days and we urge everyone to take the warnings extremely seriously.
“We have been, and continue to work hard to make sure communities are as prepared as possible and urge people to take care and make arrangements to be safe.
“Driving conditions during people’s commute home from work today will be particularly treacherous. If you are out, take extreme caution and never drive or walk through flood waters.
“Keep an eye on the forecast and visit our website for the latest information on flood warnings. You can find practical advice on flooding on our website too.”
NRW does not provide flood warnings for flooding from surface water, where rainwater does not drain away through the normal drainage systems or soak into the ground, so it is important people know their risk from this source.
A yellow wind warning is also in force from midday until midnight, covering Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Powys.
Flood alerts and flood warnings for rivers and the coast are updated on the Natural Resources Wales website every 15 minutes and are available to view at www.naturalresources.wales/flooding
Information and updates are also available by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
As well as checking flood risk and signing up for warnings, people can also check our 5-day flood forecast for the local authority areas across Wales, and find practical advice on how to prepare for flooding.