An amber weather warning has been issued for parts of England and Wales today, as Storm Claudia prepares to bring heavy downpours and potential flooding.
Flooding is likely, with some areas facing up to 150mm (6in) of rain.
The warning is in place from noon until the end of the day, and covers parts of Wales, the Midlands, the South West, South East and East of England.
Check the weather forecast where you are
The storm, named by Spain’s meteorological service, has also triggered weather warnings in Spain and Portugal, and is currently affecting the Canary Islands.
Claudia could result in travel disruptions, power cuts, and flooding, according to the Met Office.
Under a yellow warning for rain, southern Britain can expect 30mm (1.2in) to 50mm (2in) widely, with 80mm (3.1in) for parts of east Wales and central England, but the far south of England should escape the worst of it, according to the Sky Weather team.
The easterly flow means east-facing hills could see much more rain, potentially up to 150mm (6in) in southeast Wales.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday.
“This rain will become slow-moving, and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.”
Ireland’s meteorological service, Met Eireann, has also issued weather warnings for parts of Ireland, with significant rain likely in the southeast into the weekend.
The rain is the main hazard from Storm Claudia, but a strong easterly wind will develop, bringing gusts up to 70mph to parts of northwest Wales and northwest England, the Met Office said.
Flood and ‘do not travel’ warnings
According to the Environment Agency, three flood warnings are in effect as of 2am, with one at Keswick Campsite in the Lake District and two sites on the River Eden in Carlisle.
Floods minister Emma Hardy said in a statement: “As parts of the country are forecast to experience heavy rainfall, I recognise people will be concerned about the risk to their homes and livelihoods.
“I am in regular contact with the Environment Agency on their response to the expected flooding who, alongside local authorities and the emergency services, are already taking action to keep communities safe.”
The AA has also advised against travelling in the “hazardous weather”, adding: “Safety comes first. Conditions may change quickly, so stay updated and make sure you’re prepared before you travel.
“Flood water can appear quickly, and even shallow water can be dangerous – never try to drive through it.”
A colder weekend
By the weekend, the north of the UK will see a colder air mass, with overnight frosts, according to the Met Office.
Some showers will persist, but overall it will be a considerably drier and brighter period of weather in this area.
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Further south, the weekend will start off largely cloudy and wet, and still mild in the far south. Gradually, the rain will ease and eventually clear to the south, with the drier, colder conditions further north spreading to all areas by the start of next week.
Early next week, temperatures will drop sharply across the country, particularly in the north and east, bringing the first snow of the season in some areas.
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Warnings in Spain and Portugal
An elderly couple in eastern Portugal died inside their flooded house on Thursday due to Storm Claudia, the Portuguese Authority of Civil Protection told Sky News.
The couple lived in Fernao Ferro, in the municipality of Seixal, around 26km (16 miles) south of the capital Lisbon.
Half of the country was under red and orange weather warnings on Thursday, with nearly 14,000 people left without electricity.
Parts of Spain have also been under orange and yellow weather warnings on Thursday due to Storm Claudia.
