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

Cold Arctic air is set to sweep across the UK as communities in Wales recover from severe flooding that inundated properties and disrupted transport and power networks.

Storm Claudia moved away on Sunday after delivering over a month’s worth of rain to parts of England and Wales during the weekend.

It will leave behind drier, calmer, and significantly colder weather. Snow is possible on higher ground in the northern half of the UK by Tuesday.

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

A major incident which had been declared in the area was rescinded on Sunday afternoon. Four severe flood warnings – which warned of a “danger to life” – also ended.

The River Monnow reached record levels after the storm, exceeding those recorded during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.

While that low pressure system has been replaced by mostly calm and dry weather, Sunday and Monday could bring a few wintry showers on exposed eastern coasts.

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

By Tuesday, low pressure brings rain and sleet, with snow possible on higher ground in the northern half of the UK.

Midweek stays cold with brisk northerly winds, and sleet and snow showers are likely, mainly along northern and eastern coasts, as well as Northern Ireland, west Wales, and possibly the moors of south-west England.

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

Since the start of this month, there has generally been a southerly wind bringing a very mild, but cloudy, tropical maritime airmass all the way 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 of it.

Major flooding in Monmouth saw people rescued from their homes, with some evacuated to a library and a leisure centre. Hundreds of homes were left without power.

As the waters receded, many buildings were left covered in a thick layer of sludge.

“It’s dreadful,” county councillor Martin Newell told the BBC. He said he had spoken to a resident who had “lost everything, all of his possessions”, and that businesses would not recover before Christmas.

Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes said it was a “really worrying time” and that flood defences would need to be reviewed while the clear-up was under way.

She praised the “incredibly resilient and kind” community, which has been donating clothes and hot meals for evacuees at a church.

Flooding has been less severe in England, but an ongoing risk remains, with 27 flood warnings still in place.

The weather also triggered major disruption on rail networks over the weekend. Most lines have since returned to normal, but disruption is expected to continue into Monday on some Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales services.

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

Additional reporting by Nicholas Bourne