Storm clean-up begins as wintry blast to arrive

FREEZING temperatures and the chance of snow are possible as a cold snap is set to follow flooding from Storm Claudia in parts of the UK, forecasters said.

- STAFF REPORTERS

Cleanup efforts were under way yesterday after a major incident was declared in Monmouth, southeast Wales, where people were rescued or evacuated from homes that were flooded in Friday's torrential rain.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had imposed four severe flood warnings while there were 45 flood warnings in England.

As the emergency services pressed on with rescue work and residents surveyed the damage, a cold snap that could bring snow and “a marked wind chill” is expected in the coming days which could see temperatures dipping as low as minus 7C in places this week, according to the Met Office.

A drop in temperatures of around 5C was set to see top figures plunge to around 11C yesterday and get colder for the start of the week.

Snow and ice are possible, the forecaster said.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: “As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the north west will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK.