Families and businesses have begun a mammoth clean-up after Storm Claudia left much of their town underwater.
A major incident remains in place in Monmouth, south-east Wales, after the River Monnow broke its banks, unleashing unprecedented flooding on homes and businesses.
Residents were dramatically rescued or evacuated from their homes after overnight floods on Saturday left much of the town under water.
A major clean-up operation is underway, with business owners in wellies seen desperately trying to clear out the huge volumes of floodwater.
Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes has revealed how the community is rallying together but admitted it was a ‘really worrying time for residents and businesses’.
She said while the ‘big clear up’ continued, the town’s existing flood defences would need to be reconsidered.
Four severe flood warnings are still in place for south-east Wales, meaning there is a ‘danger to life’, after the River Monnow reached record levels, exceeding those from Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.
Flooding has been left severe in England, but the UK is bracing for a cold snap with a chance of snow this week.
In Portugal, an 85-year-old British woman died after extreme winds from Storm Claudia hit a holiday campsite.
The storm has already unleashed strong wings and heavy rain on Spain and Portugal.
Emergency services help people stricken on a flooded street on November 15 in Monmouth, Wales
Residents and business owners begin the clean up after yesterday’s floods
Flood damage in Monmouth in south-east Wales, after dozens of people were rescued from their homes or evacuated in the town
Monmouthshire, South Wales: Streets were left submerged in water after the heavy rain
In Monmouth, residents have rallied together to help homeowners and businesses hit by unprecedented flooding.
A church is acting as a drop-off point for donations, local businesses have been providing hot food and the town’s leisure centre has been open to people who were evacuated.
Susie Martinez, 42, and her two sons, Louis, nine, and Joey, five, had to be rescued from the Monmouth flat at 3.30am on Saturday.
‘We had to climb out of the window and into a boat,’ she said. ‘It was terrifying.’
Ms Fookes warned that the town must reconsider its flood defences following the major incident.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement, she said: ‘The flood defences did hold in a similar situation in 2020 but this flood, this amount of water, coming very fast in a short space of hours, was most definitely unprecedented.’
‘I do think now with climate change and, with the amount of big weather events that we’re getting, that we do have to relook at flood defences.’
She added: ‘One of the most amazing things when I went to Monmouth leisure centre yesterday was the incredible staff and the volunteers just coming in off the street and saying, ‘I’ll look after this family, I can take that family’ and friends of people in there rallying round and taking people with cats and dogs and so on that couldn’t go to hotels into their houses.’
It comes as the UK has recorded its coldest night since March as a cold snap is set to follow the floods.
Temperatures dropped to minus 7C in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands on Saturday night, the lowest since March 20, the Met Office said.
A 5C drop in temperatures will see top figures plunge to around 11C on Sunday and get colder for the start of the week.
Aerial image captures the aftermath of severe flooding on Monnow Street and the surrounding area in Monmouth
Staff rally together to clean up their store in Monmouth after Storm Claudia brought floods
Three cars stranded following flooding on Monnow Street on November 15
Residents and business owners begin the clean up after yesterday’s devastating floods
A man carries a shovel as a clean-up operation gets underway in Monmouth
There were dramatic scenes over the weekend as the River Monnow broke its banks
Monmouth’s MP Ms Fookes warned that the town must reconsider its flood defences following the major incident
A man cleans inside his shop, following severe flooding caused by Storm Claudia, in Monmouth, Wales
Snow and ice are possible after what has been a spell of above-average temperatures, the forecaster said.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: ‘As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the north-west will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK.
‘This will bring much colder conditions than of late and, whilst generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice.
‘This will be a notable change in our weather after a prolonged spell of above-average temperatures.’
A major incident was declared in Monmouth, south-east Wales, over the weekend where people were rescued or evacuated from homes that were flooded in Friday’s torrential rain.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had imposed four severe flood warnings amid fears there may be danger to life while there were 45 flood warnings in England.
Some 119.6mm of rainfall was recorded at an NRW rain gauge at Tafalog in Gwent, south-east Wales, in the 12 hours to 6am on Saturday while 80.6mm was recorded over the same period at Suckley, Worcestershire.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather warning for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday, and the Environment Agency has warned flooding will continue throughout the weekend.
The cold weather alert is in place from 8am on Monday until 8am next Friday and covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
