Storm Claudia brings heavy rain and flooding to England and Wales

Storm Claudia, the third named storm of the 2025/2026 season, brought extensive heavy rainfall across England and Wales on 14 November 2025, with the worst impacts in South Wales¹. The storm was named by the Spanish meteorological agency (AEMet)¹.

A major incident was declared in Monmouth, due to flooding from the River Monnow, a tributary of the River Wye¹. Several severe flood warnings, the highest category, were issued, and more than 50 properties were reported to be flooded, while a further 18,000 were protected by flood defences¹. Parts of England and Wales received the whole-month November average rainfall in six days from 9 to 14 November¹.

Rainfall totals from 13 to 14 November were 50 to 75mm fairly widely across large areas of east Wales and central England, with 75 to 100mm locally¹. Over the longer spell from 9 to 14 November, the wettest areas saw 100 to 150mm, with the whole-month average rainfall for November across a swathe from South Wales to Lincolnshire, and some locations as much as 150%¹. A rain gauge at Tafolog in the Vale of Ewyas recorded 119.6mm from 13 to 14 November, the highest two-day total at that station since records began in 2007, and 174.2mm from 9 to 14 November¹. Herefordshire recorded a provisional county average of 93.6mm over the six days, its wettest six-day spell since the major floods of July 2007¹.

Maximum temperatures on 14 November ranged from 7.3°C at Buxton in Derbyshire to 16.5°C at Wiggonholt in West Sussex¹. The Met Office notes that South Wales has experienced a number of significant flood events in recent years, including Storm Bert on 23 to 24 November 2024 and Storm Dennis on 15 to 16 February 2020, but that these followed a more typical westerly or south-westerly airflow¹.

Why it matters for households

The flooding affected parts of England and Wales, with the worst impacts in South Wales and a major incident declared in Monmouth¹. Severe flood warnings, the highest category, were issued during the event¹. The Flood Alerts, Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings guide explains what each category means, and Wales: Natural Resources Wales Warnings and Risk Maps covers how warnings are issued in Wales, where the worst impacts occurred. Households can sign up for free warnings as set out in How to Sign Up for Free Flood Warnings, and Floodline Numbers for England, Scotland and Wales lists the numbers to call. The Met Office rainfall figures show how quickly a six-day spell can deliver a whole month's average rain, which is relevant to anyone in a flood risk area reviewing Home Insurance in a Flood Risk Area and Flood Re or considering Flood Doors and Flood Windows. The Checklist When a Flood Warning Is Issued and Who to Report Flooding To set out the practical steps authorities and responders expect. Storm Claudia was the third named storm of the season; Named Storms: How the Met Office Chooses the Names explains the naming system, and Met Office Weather Warnings: Yellow, Amber and Red Explained sets out what each warning level means.

What happens next

The Met Office account was last updated on 21 November 2025¹. No further dated steps have been reported.