Snow could be on the way for parts of the UK with a cold snap set to arrive in the coming days in the wake of Storm Claudia, the Met Office said on Saturday.
The storm had a significant impact in Wales where a major incident was declared, with dozens of people rescued from their homes or evacuated in the town of Monmouth following severe flooding when the River Monnow burst its banks.
Rainfall of 119.6mm was recorded at a Natural Resources Wales 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 in Worcestershire.
As a clear-up gets under way, a cold snap that could bring snow and “a marked wind chill” is expected in the coming days.
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, while generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice.
“There will be widespread frosts across the UK, with temperatures dipping as low as -7C in places next week, and daytime temperatures staying in single figures across the country.
“Couple this with a brisk northerly wind and there will be a marked wind chill. This will be a notable change in our weather after a prolonged spell of above-average temperatures.”
Ferocious winds also hit north-west Wales and north-west England during Storm Claudia, including 63mph recorded at Aberdaron in Gwynedd and 68mph at Warcop Range in Cumbria.
South Wales fire and rescue declared a major incident in Monmouth in the early hours of Saturday after “severe and widespread” flooding across the town and surrounding communities.
Crews were working alongside Gwent police, ambulance services, mountain rescue, the coastguard and neighbouring fire and rescue services to carry out welfare checks, evacuations and rescues.
The fire service area manager, Matt Jones, said conditions remained challenging owing to fast-moving water, blocked roads and pressure on infrastructure.
He said: “This is a large-scale incident, and our crews and partners have been working tirelessly through the night and into today to help those affected.
“I want to thank everyone involved for the professionalism and care they continue to show in very difficult circumstances. I would urge the public to avoid the Monmouth area completely where possible.
“The flooding is significant and we need to keep routes clear to allow emergency services to reach the people who need us most. If you are in immediate danger with threat to life or property, or need urgent assistance, please call 999.”
The Environment Agency reported that 20 properties in England had also flooded, including some in Cumbria.
The UK Health Security Agency issued a cold weather warning for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday. Disruption is expected until Saturday and National Rail has advised travellers to check before they travel.
On the roads, the storm also hit rail replacement services and roadside assistance companies reported a busy day with a high number of call-outs on Friday.
In Northern Ireland, a yellow-level rain warning is in place in counties Armagh and Down until noon on Saturday, bringing a risk of flooding and hazardous travelling conditions. It comes as power outages were reported in Ireland, with many businesses and homes left cut off.
A status orange rain warning was in place in the Republic of Ireland for the counties of Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow until 8am, while a status yellow rain warning was in place in 10 other counties, mostly along the east and south coasts.
In Portugal, an 85-year-old British woman died after an extreme wind storm at a campsite on Saturday. Two others were seriously injured and three others sustained minor injuries at Albufeira camping park in the Algarve, Faro’s district commander for rescue operations said.
Twenty-three people were also injured due to the storm at a hotel in Albufeira.
The storm hit the area around 11am and lasted until 3pm, national meteorological office Ipma said.
