Major incident declared as Storm Claudia causes flooding and disruption

Following heavy and widespread flooding in Monmouth and the immediate areas caused by Storm Claudia, a major incident has been declared. Since the incident was announced in the town at 01:30 GMT on Saturday, emergency services have been conducting rescues, evacuations, and welfare checks, according to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. A Met Office yellow rain warning is in force until midday on Saturday, with 60 flood warnings issued for England and nine flood warning across Wales. Many people are likely to persist on Saturday morning as the UK prepares for a cold snap next week.

A number of businesses and homes in Monmouth's town center have been submerged after the river Monnow burst its banks, as some locals have been evacuated to the local library amid 'danger to life' warnings.

I haven't seen it so bad in Monmouth for 20 to 30 years,

local county councillor Martin Newell, who owns a business in the town, said, completely heartbroken for those affected. One family recalled the moment they were left holding on to a tree after their car was submerged by floodwater as they traveled from Hereford train station to Abergavenny. The Monmouth County Council has urged motorists to avoid traveling in the local area, and said officials have been on the road overnight to assist residents.

According to Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert, some regions were forecast to receive up to a month's worth of rain between Friday and Saturday. Flooding has been installed in Bewdley, West Midlands, with emergency services in Shrewsbury expected to follow suit on Saturday. To benefit communities that are most in danger, the British Red Cross said it had sent its emergency response teams on standby. For those who are outside the weekend, sub-zero temperatures and possibly snow are anticipated, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is releasing a cold weather warning from 08:00 GMT on Monday to the following Friday, which covers the north of England and Midlands.

The downpours on Friday caused some travel disruption, with National Rail advising of delays and cancellations over the weekend. Safety comes first, the AA has warned against flying in the "hazy weather. Conditions can change quickly, so be sure you're up-to-date and prepared before traveling.

Many activities have already been affected by the weather, including a Christmas celebration in Macclesfield, which was forced to shut down due to falling trees. Organisers also announced that they would investigate the track at Prestbury Park, Cheltenham, on Saturday morning, ahead of the scheduled seven-race Paddy Power Gold Cup card to determine if racing was going to continue.

Storm Claudia - a storm that has been named by the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has already dropped a slew of rain and high winds to Spain and Portugal. The storm comes as the Environment Agency warned that England will suffer significant drought without a wet winter next year. The country has only 8% of the average rainfall for January to October, with the driest spring on record and the hottest summer on record. Despite recent rain, the situation remains precarious, according to it.