Cold Arctic air is set to sweep across the UK this week as communities in Wales continue recovering from severe weekend flooding that inundated homes and disrupted travel networks.
Temperatures are forecast to drop sharply, with yellow cold health alerts in place across northern and central England until Friday. Snow is likely on higher ground in Scotland and northern England from Tuesday as the cold snap intensifies.
The wintry shift follows Storm Claudia, which delivered over a month’s worth of rain in parts of England and Wales before moving away on Sunday. In Monmouth, residents and volunteers have rallied to support households and businesses affected by unprecedented flood levels.
A major incident declared in Monmouthshire was lifted on Sunday, along with four severe flood warnings that had signalled a “danger to life”. The River Monnow reached record heights, surpassing levels seen during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024.
While calmer, drier weather briefly returns, forecasters warn of wintry showers on Monday along exposed eastern coasts. Daytime temperatures of 5–10°C are expected across much of the UK, but brisk northerly winds will deepen the chill.
By Tuesday, low pressure is set to bring rain, sleet, and potential snowfall, particularly across mountainous areas in the northern half of the country. The UK Health Security Agency has cautioned that the sustained cold could place “significant impacts” on health and social care services.
The temperature drop is driven by a shift in wind direction, replacing the mild southerly flow from the Canary Islands earlier this month with colder air as the UK moves to the jet stream’s cooler side.
In Monmouth, the flooding has left widespread damage. Hundreds of homes lost power, while several residents had to be rescued and temporarily housed in community centres. Thick layers of sludge now coat many properties as clean-up efforts continue.
“It’s dreadful,” county councillor Martin Newell said, noting some residents had “lost everything”. Local businesses are not expected to recover before Christmas. Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes called for a review of the region’s flood defences.
Elsewhere, 24 flood warnings remain active in England, though impacts have been less severe. Travel disruption continues, with some Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales services still affected. National Rail urged passengers to check before travelling, while the AA warned drivers to avoid hazardous conditions.
With wintry weather set to persist, authorities advise continued caution as the UK braces for a cold and unsettled week.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
