Heavy rain is causing flooding and disruption across parts of Wales. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for rain across mid and south east Wales on Sunday from 15:00 GMT until 06:00 on Monday. The forecaster warned rain could become "persistent and heavy" on Sunday followed by showers on Monday morning, leading to surface water and river flooding.
Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said at 19:00, "the next few hours will be crucia," as crews distribute sandbags to high-risk flood areas across the county borough. Flooding has blocked railway lines between Penrhiwceiber and Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the council's emergency control room remains "fully staffed". The Met Office said up to 70mm (2.8in) of rain was expected "fairly widely" and up to 100mm (4in) on exposed hills.
The amber rain warning covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan. A less severe yellow warning for rain is also issued for other nearby regions.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued 35 flood alerts and 10 flood warnings. The warnings cover parts of the River Cothi, River Towy, River Tawe, River Neath, River Ely, River Usk, River Lower Clydach, and the River Taff. North Wales Police reported the A4086 road at Llanberis is closed due to flooding near the Royal Victoria Hotel. Meanwhile, National Rail said no trains are running between Abercynon and Aberdare due to flooding.
On Sunday evening, Morgan confirmed teams are distributing thousands of sandbags and deploying pumps, with emergency services on standby. "We are closely monitoring the river gauges, which are currently at very high levels. Whilst the flooding is not extremely serious at the moment, the next few hours will be crucia," Morgan said, underscoring the proactive measures being taken.
Overlapping with these events, heavy rain is also affecting Southeast Asia. The Meteorological Department has warned of unstable weather conditions expected to affect 48 provinces, including Bangkok. Today’s forecast indicated thunderstorms, strong winds, and potential hail due to the monsoon covering the southern region, expected to bring heavy rainfall to around 70% of the area.
Upper Thailand faces similar unstable weather, where thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are predicted, with temperatures dropping by 1-3°C. Residents have been advised to be cautious of changing weather conditions and potential lightning strikes, with specific advisories against open spaces and weak structures.
"Residents should take care of their health due to changing weather conditions and to be cautious of thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hail," said the Meteorological Department of Thailand. Farmers are being advised to implement protective measures for crops to mitigate potential damage.
This pattern of severe weather across not only Wales but also Southeast Asia raises significant concern about the impact on communities and infrastructure as they brace for possible long-term consequences of such weather events.
With authorities across both regions on high alert and implementing emergency protocols, the need for preparedness and resilience becomes ever more clear. Communities must work collectively to face these unpredictable weather patterns, which seem increasingly common, reflecting broader environmental changes affecting their regions.