Somerset and numerous other communities across England face flood alerts today (Friday) due to Storm Claudia’s relentless heavy rainfall expected to persist over the next 24 hours. Currently, there are 100 flood alerts across England, with the South West, Midlands, and the North being the hardest hit regions.
The Environment Agency issues flood warnings when flooding is imminent and immediate action is needed, while flood alerts indicate a possibility of flooding, urging residents to prepare accordingly. Presently, three flood warnings are active—all in the North West region, including Keswick and two locations in Carlisle.
The past week has seen sustained heavy rain batter the country, and Storm Claudia has intensified the situation, leading to Amber weather warnings from the Met Office for southern and central England and Wales. Alongside these, wider yellow warnings cover rain and wind, signaling a notably wet day ahead across England and Wales. Our interactive map helps you view all flood alerts in your vicinity for greater awareness and preparedness.
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Rain is expected to advance northward throughout Friday and into early Saturday. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert cautioned: “Storm Claudia will bring exceptionally heavy rainfall across central and southern England and Wales from Friday into Saturday. Some areas may receive up to a month’s worth of rain within 24 hours. With ground already saturated, the risk of flooding is significantly heightened, justifying the Amber warnings issued. Within these zones, rainfall could exceed 150mm, with widespread amounts between 60-80mm. Additionally, gusty winds of 60-70mph are forecast in exposed areas of northwest England and northwest Wales.”
These warnings highlight potential travel disruptions, power outages, and flooding risks. Unlike many named storms, Claudia will not directly cross the UK but will generate heavy downpours on Friday and Saturday while staying predominantly west of the country before gradually weakening on Saturday.
Alun Attwood, Duty Tactical Manager Wales at Natural Resources Wales, emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “With amber and yellow rain warnings active from early Friday through Saturday, significant impacts are expected across Wales. Saturated ground and swollen rivers elevate the risk of multiple flood alerts and warnings. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and prepare now for possible flooding.”
Ben Lukey, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, added: “Minor flooding from surface water and rivers continues across northern England today. Storm Claudia’s persistent heavy rainfall will likely cause significant surface water flooding in central England on Friday and could lead to notable river flooding Friday into Saturday. Our teams are actively clearing debris and readying flood defenses. Collaborations with local authorities ensure emergency responders are fully informed and prepared.”
Authorities warn residents to avoid driving through floodwaters, which can be deceptively deep—just 30cm of flowing water is sufficient to float a car. People are encouraged to use resources such as ‘check my flood risk’ to stay informed of current warnings and follow updates from the Environment Agency on social media.
As the weekend progresses, a colder air mass will settle over northern parts of the UK, bringing overnight frosts and generally drier, brighter conditions with occasional showers. Southern areas will start wetter and milder but should see rain ease and clear toward the end of the weekend as cooler, drier conditions spread nationwide into early next week.