Storm Claudia brings heavy rain and flood risks to Gloucester as Met Office issues Yellow warning

When the Met Office issued a Yellow rain warning for Gloucester at 10:37 AM UTC on Friday, 28 November 2025, residents didn’t just see another wet forecast—they saw the next chapter in a week-long deluge. The warning, covering the period from Monday midnight to 3:00 PM local time, isn’t just about rain. It’s about rivers swelling, roads turning to sludge, and homes on low ground bracing for water that won’t drain. This is Storm Claudia, a system named by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología in Spain, now sweeping across the UK with enough force to push the Met Office to expand its alert zone from South West England all the way into northwest Wales and northern England.

What’s Falling From the Sky—and Where

The numbers are stark. Across Gloucestershire and surrounding areas, 30 to 50 millimeters of rain is expected quite widely. But that’s the baseline. In places like the Malvern Hills and the Forest of Dean, the Met Office warns that 60 to 80 millimeters could pile up. And over east-facing slopes in southeast Wales—particularly near Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)—some spots may see over 100 millimeters. That’s more than four inches of rain in less than 24 hours. For context: Gloucester’s average November rainfall is about 85 millimeters total. This storm could dump nearly that much in a single day.

It’s not just the volume. It’s the timing. The ground is already saturated from two weeks of persistent rain. Drainage systems are near capacity. Rivers like the Severn and the Wye are running high. When the storm hits, water won’t soak in—it’ll run. And where it runs, it pools. Surface flooding is the real threat, not just river overflow.

Why This Warning Is Different

Yellow means “be aware”—not panic, but don’t ignore it. The Met Office reserves Amber and Red for when disruption becomes severe or life-threatening. But here’s the twist: the Yellow warning for Gloucester sits in a much larger Amber zone. Areas like Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and parts of Staffordshire are under Amber alerts. That means officials there are already preparing sandbags, closing low-lying roads, and mobilizing emergency teams. Gloucester, for now, is on the edge of that danger zone. But the Met Office’s latest update shows the storm’s core is shifting northwest. What’s Yellow today could turn Amber by Tuesday morning.

Wind adds another layer. Strong easterly gusts—up to 45 mph—are expected to whip across the region, turning rain into horizontal sheets. Visibility on the M5 and A38 could drop below 100 meters. Commuters heading into Bristol or Cheltenham should expect delays. Trains may be suspended between Gloucester and Hereford. Local councils have already begun clearing gullies and checking flood barriers.

Who’s Affected—and How

It’s not just drivers. Farmers in the Cotswolds are watching their fields turn to mud. Livestock are being moved to higher ground. In rural villages like Dursley and Stonehouse, residents are filling sandbags with their own hands. One resident, Margaret Hall, 72, told a local reporter: “I’ve lived here 50 years. I’ve seen floods, but never this many warnings in a row. It’s like the sky’s broken.”

Schools in Gloucestershire are preparing contingency plans. Some may close if access roads flood. The NHS has issued guidance for vulnerable patients: if you rely on home medical equipment, make sure your backup power is charged. Pharmacies are being urged to keep extra supplies on hand.

What Comes Next

The storm’s peak is expected Monday morning, with the heaviest rain falling between 6 AM and noon. By late afternoon, it begins to ease—but not before another band of rain sweeps across central England on Tuesday. The Met Office says the system will clear into the North Sea by Saturday night, but the damage won’t. Flood recovery takes weeks. Insurance claims are already rising. The Environment Agency has deployed additional river gauges and is monitoring 12 critical sites in the Severn catchment.

What’s alarming isn’t just the rain. It’s the pattern. This is the fifth significant rainfall event in the UK since mid-October. Climate scientists at the University of Exeter note that the frequency of extreme rain events has increased by 40% over the last two decades. “We’re not talking about one-off storms anymore,” said Dr. Eleanor Park. “We’re talking about a new normal. Infrastructure built for 20th-century weather is being tested by 21st-century climate.”

What You Should Do

The Met Office’s advice is simple: stay informed, stay prepared. Check your local council’s flood alert page. Move valuables from ground floors. Avoid driving through flooded roads—even shallow water can sweep away a car. Keep your phone charged. And if you’re elderly or disabled, ask a neighbor to check in.

There’s no magic fix. But awareness saves lives. And in a season where the sky seems determined to fall, that’s the only shield we’ve got.