“This community is incredibly resilient and kind,” said Monmouthshire MP Catherine Fookes on Sunday, as volunteers, crews and small traders mucked in after Storm Claudia left the town centre under water. The major incident declared in the early hours of Saturday was lifted on Sunday afternoon, but the clear-up will take time.

Natural Resources Wales said the River Monnow hit record levels, higher than during Storm Dennis in 2020 and Storm Bert in 2024, with four severe flood warnings in force on Sunday morning. Evacuations and welfare support ran through the night, with the local leisure centre taking in people forced from their homes.

Across the border in England, officials reported a smaller tally of flooded properties but still serious impacts, including in Cumbria. The Welsh Government called the flooding “significant”, affecting homes, businesses and infrastructure.

Met Office data shows just how fierce Claudia was: 119.6mm of rain was recorded at an NRW gauge at Tafalog in Gwent between Thursday evening and early Saturday, while gusts reached 68mph at Warcop Range in Cumbria and 63mph at Aberdaron in Gwynedd.

Rail disruption rippled across the Great Western route. Network Rail issued a ‘do not travel’ notice on Friday as flooding shut lines between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, severing services between London Paddington and South Wales. Some routes began reopening by Saturday afternoon, but operators urged passengers to check before setting off.

Now the weather flips. As Claudia clears, high pressure is settling things down but pulling in much colder air from the north. The UK saw its coldest night since March on Saturday, bottoming out at -7C in Tulloch Bridge, with daytime highs staying in single figures for many early this week.

For northern England, the Met Office outlook points to a sharper chill from Tuesday 18 November, with the risk of hill snow on the Pennines and other high ground, and wintry showers for exposed coasts. Icy stretches are likely in places as brisk northerlies take hold.

Health officials have issued a yellow cold-health alert from 08:00 Monday 17 November to 08:00 Friday 21 November across the East Midlands, North East, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire & the Humber, warning of pressure on services and urging people to look out for vulnerable neighbours.

Closer to home, councils say winter teams are ready. Sefton Council confirmed its ten-strong gritting fleet is on standby with 3,500 tonnes of salt stocked, a reminder for drivers across Merseyside and Lancashire to expect pre-emptive runs on main routes if road temperatures dip.

Travel-wise, keep plans flexible. National Rail continues to advise passengers to check before they travel, and the AA has told motorists to avoid heading out in hazardous weather. That applies just as much on the A66, M62 and moor-top routes as it does further south.

Back in Monmouth, Catherine Fookes called it “a really worrying time” for residents and businesses and said existing flood defences now need a fresh look after the weekend’s record river levels. She urged shoppers not to shun the town as the clean-up continues.

Beyond midweek, the Met Office signals a mostly cold, bright spell for many before more changeable Atlantic weather nudges back later, but for northern firms and commuters the immediate focus is frosts, the chance of hill snow, and early starts on icy roads. We’ll keep watching the warnings.