Large swathes of the Welsh town of Monmouth found themselves underwater last weekend as Storm Claudia battered the UK and Ireland, bringing torrential rain and widespread flooding to communities already weary from previous storms. The deluge, which began on Friday, November 14, 2025, and continued into Saturday, left emergency services scrambling to respond to rapidly changing and hazardous conditions across England and Wales.
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident in the early hours of November 15, urging the public to avoid the affected areas. Fast-moving water surged through streets, blocking roads and putting immense pressure on local infrastructure. The dangers were real and immediate, with authorities warning, as reported by BBC, that the situation was "creating dangerous conditions." A yellow rain warning remained in place for parts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, highlighting the ongoing risk as the storm system lingered.
Storm Claudia had already made its presence felt earlier in the week, lashing Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands before sweeping northwards. But it was the scenes in Monmouth—a town perched just over the Welsh border from Herefordshire—that captured national attention. Residents awoke to find their streets transformed into rivers, and the river Monnow at Monnow Gate surged to an unprecedented 6.658 meters, the highest level ever recorded at that gauge. This astonishing figure broke the previous record set during Storm Dennis in 2020, which had reached 6.58 meters.
Among those witnessing the chaos firsthand was Jules Hudson, the well-known presenter of Escape to the Country. Hudson, who lives in nearby Herefordshire, happened to be in Monmouth as the storm hit. Sharing his experience with fans on social media, he remarked, "I've never, ever seen rain like it." The presenter was visibly moved by the suffering around him, adding, "My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by the havoc that the storm wreaked." According to The Guardian, Hudson's words echoed the sentiments of many locals and emergency responders as the town began to reckon with the scale of the disaster.
As floodwaters rose, emergency crews sprang into action. Teams from South Wales Fire and Rescue, Gwent Police, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS University Trust, SARA, Mountain Rescue, the Coastguard, and neighboring fire and rescue services worked through the night. Their efforts included rescues, evacuations, and welfare checks, as they navigated submerged streets and treacherous currents. The collaboration across agencies was crucial in ensuring the safety of residents and minimizing harm, even as the full extent of the damage was still being assessed days later.
Monmouth was far from the only community affected. Across Wales and parts of England, roads were blocked, public transport was disrupted, and homes and businesses suffered water damage. The scale of the flooding prompted comparisons with previous severe weather events, and many residents expressed frustration and anxiety about the increasing frequency of such storms. Local officials pointed to the pressures on infrastructure, with drainage systems and flood defenses struggling to cope with the volume of water unleashed by Storm Claudia.
Elsewhere, the storm's impact was felt in historic and unexpected ways. In Worcester, the medieval Powick Old Bridge—a structure steeped in British history—sustained further damage during the storm. Already weakened by a partial collapse during a flood last winter, the bridge lost two coping stones and several bricks when a loose tree trunk collided with it. Worcestershire County Council confirmed that, fortunately, the main structure and the temporary support system remained intact. "The council is addressing the minor damage and will carry out the necessary repairs to make good the affected area," a spokesperson told BBC News.
The timing could hardly have been worse for the bridge, which had recently secured a £5 million repair commitment from the county council's Reform cabinet. The plan, approved in October 2025, aims to restore the historic crossing, with work expected to begin in 2027 and the bridge slated to reopen in 2028. Councillor Alan Amos, a member of the Reform cabinet, expressed his relief after the funding was agreed, stating, "I'm absolutely over the moon." The bridge's historical significance is considerable: it was the site of the first engagement of the English Civil War—the Battle of Powick Bridge—on September 23, 1642, and later played a role in the final battle of the war at Worcester on September 3, 1651.
The damage to Powick Old Bridge serves as a poignant reminder of how extreme weather events not only disrupt daily life but also threaten the preservation of the UK's cultural heritage. The bridge, with its centuries-old arches and storied past, has weathered countless storms, but the increasing severity of recent flooding events is testing even the most resilient structures.
For many in the affected regions, the immediate focus remains on recovery and clean-up. In Monmouth, as of November 21, 2025, efforts to clear debris and restore services were ongoing. Residents faced the daunting task of assessing damage to homes and businesses, with local authorities pledging support and promising to review flood defenses and emergency preparedness in the wake of the storm.
Looking ahead, the events of the past week have reignited conversations about climate resilience and the need for robust infrastructure investment. The frequency and intensity of storms like Claudia are raising difficult questions for policymakers and communities alike. How can towns like Monmouth and Worcester better protect themselves in the future? What lessons can be learned from the coordinated emergency response, and where are the gaps that still need to be addressed?
As the clean-up continues, one thing is clear: the scars left by Storm Claudia—both physical and emotional—will linger long after the waters recede. The resilience of communities, the dedication of emergency services, and the commitment to preserving history will all be tested in the months and years to come. For now, the people of Monmouth, Worcester, and beyond are left to pick up the pieces, determined to rebuild and prepare for whatever storms the future may bring.
