The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain across London and much of southern England as Storm Claudia moves in,
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain across London and much of southern England as Storm Claudia moves in, bringing the risk of flooding, power cuts and travel disruption from Friday into early Saturday.
The storm, named by the Spanish Meteorological Service, is set to bring torrential downpours and strong easterly winds across large parts of the country. Forecasters say the worst of the weather will hit on Friday, with rain turning heavy and persistent before gradually easing into Saturday morning. A yellow weather warning for rain is in place which covers Greater London, Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire , and is in place from 6am Friday to 6am Saturday .
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.
“Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the Amber warnings we have issued. Within the Amber warning areas, some could see in excess of 150mm accumulate during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely.”
While the most severe impacts are expected further west, London sits firmly within the yellow warning zone, where flooding and disruption are possible. The Met Office says homes and businesses could be affected by floodwater, while spray and surface flooding may lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures. Bus and train services could also be delayed or cancelled. Power cuts are another risk, along with potential loss of other services to some homes.
Residents are being urged to prepare by checking whether their properties are at risk of flooding and putting together an emergency kit with essentials such as torches, batteries and phone power packs. Drivers are advised to check travel updates before setting out and avoid flooded roads wherever possible.
Forecast for London
Thursday night: Cloudy skies with outbreaks of rain moving in from the south-east, becoming heavy and persistent overnight. Winds will strengthen from the east. Minimum temperature 11°C.
Friday: A wet and windy day as Storm Claudia peaks. Expect heavy, prolonged rain throughout the morning and afternoon, with strong easterly winds. The rain will begin to ease into heavy showers later in the day. Maximum temperature 14°C.
Saturday: Cloudy to start with weakening outbreaks of rain gradually clearing southwards. Brisk winds will make it feel cooler, but it should turn mostly dry by the afternoon.
Sunday: Largely cloudy with some brighter spells later in the day. Mostly dry, with just a few spots of drizzle possible. Feeling a little chillier.
Monday: A colder, brighter day with plenty of sunshine and limited cloud. Northerly winds will make it feel brisk, marking the start of a drier and cooler spell for the capital.
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