A major incident has been declared in Monmouth following severe and widespread flooding caused by Storm Claudia.
Emergency services have been carrying out rescues, evacuations, and welfare checks since the incident was declared in the town at 01:30 GMT on Saturday, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said that though the weather is now “more settled” there “remains a risk of ongoing river flooding”. Some 49 flood warnings have been issued for England, while nine flood warnings are in place across Wales.
A number of businesses and homes in Monmouth town centre flooded after the River Monnow burst its banks. Some locals have been evacuated to the local library amid “danger to life” warnings.
“I haven’t seen it this bad in Monmouth for 20 to 30 years,” said local county councillor Martin Newell, who has a business in the town, adding that he was “absolutely heartbroken” for those affected.
One family described the moment they were left “holding on to a tree” after their car was submerged by floodwater as they travelled from Hereford train station to Abergavenny.
Monmouthshire County Council has urged motorists to avoid travelling in the local area.
Crews were called to 82 flood-related incidents in the area, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, adding that there was “concern” about the possible effects of high tide at 16:00 GMT.
The Environment Agency said 20 properties had flooded in England as a result of Storm Claudia, including some in Cumbria.
Officers from the agency were clearing debris and erecting temporary defences where required in affected areas, it added.
The British Red Cross said it had placed its emergency response teams on standby to help communities most at risk.
Beyond the weekend, sub-zero temperatures and potentially snow are expected for some, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a cold weather alert from 08:00 GMT on Monday until the following Friday which covers the north of England and Midlands.
Friday’s downpours have caused some travel disruption, with National Rail warning of delays and cancellations over the weekend.
The AA has advised against travelling in the “hazardous weather”, saying: “Safety comes first. Conditions may change quickly, so stay updated and make sure you’re prepared before you travel.”
Some events have already been disrupted by the weather, including a Christmas event – Lapland UK – in Macclesfield being forced to shut because of falling trees.
Racing went ahead at Cheltenham despite earlier fears that the rain would have left the track unusable.
The storm comes as the Environment Agency warned that England will experience widespread drought next year without a wet winter.
The country has received only 83% of the average rainfall for January to October, and suffered the driest spring for 132 years and the hottest summer on record.
Despite recent rainfall, the situation remains “precarious”, it said.
Source: www.bbc.com