Arctic blast to spread across UK as flood clean-up continues

Cold Arctic air will spread across the UK as communities in Wales recover from severe flooding that inundated properties and disrupted transport and energy networks.

Storm Claudia moved away on Sunday after bringing more than a month of rain to parts of England and Wales over the weekend.

You will leave behind a drier, calmer and significantly colder climate. Snow is possible on higher ground across the northern half of the UK on Tuesday.

The cold snap comes as people come together to help residents and business owners recover from unprecedented flooding in Monmouth, Wales.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued four serious flood warnings in Monmouth amid concerns of a “significant risk to life”. The Monnow River has reached record levels, surpassing those recorded during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.

A serious incident declaration made early on Saturday was revoked on Sunday afternoon, the fire service said.

While that low pressure system has been replaced by mostly calm and dry weather, Sunday and Monday could bring some wintry showers to exposed eastern coasts.

Highs of 5-10C are expected across much of the UK in the coming days.

On Tuesday, low pressure will bring rain and sleet, with snow possible on higher ground across the northern half of the UK.

Midweek remains cold with strong northerly winds, and sleet and snow are likely, mainly along the north and east coasts, as well as Northern Ireland, west Wales and possibly the moors of south-west England.

The significant drop in temperature is due to the change in wind direction.

Since the beginning of this month, a southerly wind has generally blown, bringing a mass of very soft but cloudy tropical maritime air from the Canary Islands.

This pattern will change. After being on the warmer side of the jet stream, the UK will be on the colder side.

Major flooding in Monmouth led to people being rescued from their homes. Some had to be evacuated to a nearby library.

Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes said it was a “really worrying time for residents and businesses” and that as the “major clean-up” continued, existing flood defenses would need to be reconsidered.

“This community is incredibly resilient and kind,” Fookes said.

The city’s fire and rescue service said hundreds of homes had been left without power.

Flooding has been less severe in England, but the risk remains, with 42 flood warnings in force.

The weather has also caused major disruptions to rail networks.

All lines were blocked between Swindon and Bristol Parkway on Sunday morning, Great Western Railway said, and services between London Paddington and Swansea were affected. The outage is expected to last until noon.

National Rail has warned passengers to check before they travel and the AA has told drivers to avoid traveling in “dangerous weather”.

Additional reporting by Nicholas Bourne