Monmouth, a historic market town in South Wales, found itself at the heart of a crisis on November 15, 2025, as Storm Claudia unleashed a torrent of rain that overwhelmed rivers, breached flood defences, and left residents reeling from the worst flooding seen in decades. The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident in Monmouth, a move echoed by Natural Resources Wales, which imposed four severe flood warnings in the area and issued a total of 26 flood alerts and warnings across Wales, citing a "significant risk to life."
As dawn broke over Monmouth, the scale of the devastation became painfully clear. The River Monnow had burst its banks in the early hours, sending torrents of muddy water surging down Monnow Street, the town’s main thoroughfare. Businesses—many recently refurbished, such as Bar 125—were inundated. Teams from South Wales Fire and Rescue worked through the night and into the morning, carrying out rescues, evacuations, and welfare checks, moving residents from affected areas to places of safety. Conditions remained treacherous, with fast-moving water, blocked routes, and mounting pressure on local infrastructure complicating every effort.
According to a fire service statement reported by the BBC, “Teams have been carrying out rescues, evacuations, welfare checks, and moving residents from affected areas to places of safety.” The operation was a collaborative effort, involving Gwent Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and Monmouthshire council staff. Monmouthshire council later confirmed, “Areas of Monmouthshire have clearly been heavily impacted, our teams will be out throughout the duration of the weekend to assess the damage and begin the clean up process. We will share more information in due course. For now we ask that you continue to stay safe and provide support, where possible, for those in need.”
For many, the events of the night were harrowing. Bethan Turner recounted to BBC Radio Wales how her father’s Range Rover was swept away by floodwaters while he was trying to drive her and her boyfriend home from Hereford train station to Abergavenny. The vehicle became stuck, forcing the group to scramble onto its roof as water levels continued to rise. “They were on either side trying to get to us, but the water was too deep and too strong for them to actually reach us,” Bethan said of the fire service rescuers, who she described as “absolutely incredible.” Pushed by the current and wedged against a tree, the trio clung to branches in the dark, with six inches of water flowing over the roof of the submerged vehicle. “It was so strong and so powerful, the firefighters were saying under no circumstances get in the water,” she recalled. Eventually, they were rescued by boat and dropped off at a local pub, where, in a moment of relief, the firefighters suggested they “go have a pint.”
For local officials, the disaster was both shocking and deeply personal. Monmouth MP Catherine Fookes said, “The scenes across the county are shocking and I can only imagine how devastating this is for residents whose homes and businesses have been affected.” She praised Monmouthshire’s “fantastic community spirit,” expressing confidence that residents would “continue to pull together and support one another as the clean-up begins.”
First Minister Eluned Morgan and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies issued a joint statement thanking the emergency services for “working tirelessly in dreadful conditions to keep people safe,” and commended those looking out for their neighbors. “It is often at times of hardship that we see the best of people,” they said, acknowledging the remarkable efforts of responders and volunteers alike.
Local county councillor Martin Newell, who owns a business in the town, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that he hadn’t seen flooding this bad in Monmouth for 20 to 30 years. “I’m absolutely heartbroken for those affected. These are friends that own these businesses and also live in these properties,” he said. Newell paid tribute to the 999 crews who had been on the ground since Friday afternoon and to local businesses providing them with food and hot drinks. “We’ve got a big job ahead. We’re going to clean this up and we will get it done.”
Newell emphasized that flood defences had protected the town “somewhat over the last few decades,” making this disaster all the more shocking and unexpected. “To have flooding on this scale is really rare and I didn’t expect to see this ever again after the flood defences were built. And this is why this is so heartbreaking because this isn’t supposed to happen. We need to find out what’s happened here, do a full investigation and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
The severe flood warnings covered both the River Wye at Monmouth and the River Monnow at multiple locations, including Watery Lane, Over Monnow; Forge Road, Osbaston; and Skenfrith. The impact was not limited to homes and businesses—transport links were also crippled. Transport for Wales advised customers “not to attempt to travel” between Shrewsbury and Cardiff on Saturday, warning that rail lines between Newport and Hereford, as well as Hereford and Shrewsbury, were closed due to flooding. “We have been unable to source sufficient replacement road transport and cannot guarantee customers will be able to reach their destination,” the company stated.
The storm’s havoc extended beyond Monmouth. Hundreds of homes across South Wales lost power, including 330 in Cardiff, 285 in Tregaron, 68 near St Clears, and 41 in Camarthen, according to National Grid figures. The latest deluge followed closely on the heels of severe flooding in Carmarthen, which one business owner described as the “worst in living memory.”
Despite the destruction, stories of resilience and community spirit emerged. Residents, business owners, and emergency responders banded together in the face of adversity, providing shelter, food, and comfort to those displaced by the floods. The newly refurbished Bar 125, among the many businesses affected, shared dramatic images of floodwaters on social media, a testament to both the scale of the disaster and the determination to document and overcome it.
As Monmouthshire council and emergency services continued their coordinated response, the focus shifted to assessing damage and beginning the arduous clean-up process. Officials urged the public to stay safe, heed warnings, and support those in need wherever possible. The coming days and weeks will test the community’s resolve, but, as many have noted, it is precisely in such moments of hardship that the best of people—and places—shines through.
With the memory of previous floods still fresh, and with questions swirling about the adequacy of current flood defences, Monmouth faces a long road to recovery. But if the events of November 15 have shown anything, it’s that the town’s spirit, much like its rivers, runs deep and strong.
