Parts of Britain and Ireland are to brace for major incidents after Storm Claudia brought widespread flooding, prompting urgent rescue efforts and further weather warnings on Saturday, according to The Guardian.

In Wales, four severe flood warnings, indicating a significant risk to life, were in place at 6am, while an earlier yellow warning for rain across central and northern England, the south-west and Wales expired at the same time. South Wales Fire and Rescue declared a major incident in Monmouth overnight amid “severe and widespread” flooding.

Emergency crews, working with police, ambulance teams, mountain rescue and the coastguard, carried out evacuations, rescues and welfare checks throughout the night. Area manager Matt Jones said conditions remained dangerous due to fast-moving water and blocked roads.

Meanwhile, the Met Office said patchy rain would continue across England and Wales, while Northern Ireland and Scotland would see brighter spells before colder Arctic air moves in on Sunday.

The UK Health Security Agency issued a cold weather alert for parts of the Midlands and northern England from Monday, warning of further disruption. Transport services also faced delays, with rail replacement operations and roadside assistance companies reporting a surge in callouts.

In Ireland, power outages affected homes and businesses, and multiple counties remained under orange and yellow rain warnings on Saturday morning, with flooding risks persisting in Armagh, Down, Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow.