Overview
- Met Office amber warnings for heavy rain take effect Friday into early Saturday across central and southern England and Wales, with wider yellow alerts for rain and wind.
- Forecasts indicate 60–80mm of rain widely, up to 90mm in places, and potentially 100–150mm over east-facing hills, with strongest gusts reaching 60–70mph in exposed areas.
- Natural Resources Wales lists more than 20 flood alerts, saying flooding is expected in areas including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Torfaen.
- Local authorities announce preemptive closures, including Idris Davies School in Caerphilly and multiple parks and facilities in Rhondda Cynon Taff, with advice for schools to prepare for disruption.
- The AA advises against travel in hazardous conditions as forecasters warn of power cuts, transport disruption and surface-water as well as river flooding; Storm Claudia was named by Spain’s meteorological service after impacts in the Canary Islands.