'A month’s worth of rain in 24 hours': Storm Claudia to hit Wakefield bringing 'heavy and disruptive rain' this weekend

Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish Meteorological Service due to ongoing impacts in Canary Islands, has resulted in amber rain warnings in southern and central parts of England and Wales.

In contrast to many named storms, Claudia won’t directly cross the UK, though it is responsible for the “heavy and disruptive” rain on Friday and into Saturday.

The rain is expected to gradually spread further north through the warning areas on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The forecast for Wakefield, for Friday (November 14) reads: “Further rain, heavy and persistent, slowly moving northwards through the day. The heaviest rain likely on east-facing hills. A strong and gusty east wind, feeling colder. Maximum temperature 9C”.

Into the weekend and the heavy rain will continue.

The Met Office’s local outlook for Saturday (November 14) to Monday (November 16) reads: “Further heavy into early Saturday, gradually easing from the north. Feeling cold, with a strong and gusty easterly wind. Drier and brighter Sunday and Monday. Winds gradually easing, feeling chilly”.

The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday.

"This rain will become slow moving, and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.

"“Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the amber warnings we have issued”.