The Met Office has upgraded its weather warning for heavy rain to AMBER for Friday, November 14, and designated the upcoming weather event as Storm Claudia.
This is the FIFTH weather warning for rain in fewer than two weeks, and residents and businesses are advised to prepare in advance for potential flooding and disruption, especially in previously-impacted areas.
Current forecasts suggest that outbreaks of rain will develop through Thursday night, becoming prolonged and heavy throughout Friday, with the worst of the weather expected from Friday afternoon/evening into Saturday morning.
Having already had a significant period of rain recently, the ground is already very saturated, and rivers are already higher than normal levels. This increases the likelihood of flooding in Rhondda Cynon Taf during Storm Claudia.
There is a high possibility of over 100mm of rain in southeast Wales, a significant amount that could lead to surface water and river flooding impacts.
Natural Resources Wales' overall flood risk has been upgraded to MEDIUM, meaning flooding is likely. Intelligence from the Flood Forecasting Centre suggests the impact could be severe, meaning residents and businesses should prepare accordingly.
Advice to Residents and Businesses
- Check if your property is at risk of flooding and prepare a flood plan if necessary.
- If you have previously flooded ensure important documents and valuables are stored somewhere safe.
- Check and install flood gates and defences if your property has one, especially before you go to bed on Thursday and Friday evenings.
- Avoid unnecessary travel during peak rainfall as surface water flooding should be expected on roads. If travel is essential, allow extra time and check road and rail updates.
- Move vehicles from areas which have previously flooded. Council Car parks in Pontypridd will stay open and not require payment on Friday/Saturday to support this. Subject to weather conditions, there may be a requirement to close Gas Road Car Park.
- Stay informed by following updates from the Met Office, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, and Natural Resources Wales’ official channels.
- Sign up to Natural Resources Wales Flood Alerts.
- Purchase sandbags if you are concerned about your property. Sandbags can be purchased/filled at your local builders’ merchants. Council crews have almost 10,000 sandbags that will need to be prioritised for emergency situations only and where they are able to respond.
Helping our crews
Our crews and contractors work extremely hard leading up to and during weather events – both inside and outside of normal working hours. Given the frequency and intensity of recent weather, they are understandably needed to react to the most urgent threats as they happen. You can help support them during this time with some small actions:
- Clear leaves or debris from drains on your property. If it is safe to do so, clearing the top of any drains or gullies outside and near your property will help our crews enormously, and reduce risk of surface flooding. This can be done wearing gloves or with a dustpan and brush.
- Report blocks drains and culverts in advance by using our online form. This helps our crews target where they need to be and helps keeps phone lines in our Contact Centre free for emergencies.
- Report floodingusing our new 24/7 online form. Reports sent using our online form go directly to our frontline crews without the need to go through our Contact Centre.
- If you have private culvert on your property, check for any blockages and where safe to do so remove these to reduce the risk of flooding.
What have we done and what we are doing?
We understand public concern, and we are proactively deploying crews, machines and vehicles to areas at highest risk of flooding. Our crews and contractors will be working around the clock throughout the period to respond to emergencies. We have significantly increased the number of contractors and machinery to support flood response.
Our emergency control room will be manned throughout Storm Claudia, and CCTV cameras and alarms on culverts will be monitored, with this intelligence passed on to frontline crews to respond to issues.
Gully cleaners and jetting units are working extended hours to clear drains due to increased leaf fall at this time of year which increases the risk of surface water flooding.
We will be deploying high volume water pumps alongside Dwr Cymru Welsh Water in Pontypridd on Friday. Residents and businesses are advised that Pontypridd remains open, but please be vigilant for updates, especially from Natural Resources Wales.
For the latest updates, please follow our official Facebook page (‘Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’).
Rivers
Natural Resources Wales has increased the flood risk level for Rhondda Cynon Taf to MEDIUM for Friday and Saturday, meaning flooding is expected. Residents and businesses that have previously experienced flooding should prepare for this. More information can be found here.
You can sign up to receive Flood Warnings from Natural Resources Wales here.
Reporting to the Council
If there is a threat to life always call 999.
To report flooding emergencies to the Council, you can now do this by using the 24/7 online form. Reports are sent directly to our frontline crews where they are prioritised, without the need to call our Contact Centre.
Report flooding online
Report Flooding through our Contact Centre
01443 425001 (Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00)
01443 425011 (Out of Hours)
Please do not contact us on social media in an emergency.
Safety advice
Properties and businesses with flood defences should check their equipment and install as required or be ready to deploy.
Properties that have previously flooded or at known risk of flooding should be prepared. Find more information on preparing for a flood here.
Do not travel unless necessary. There will be difficult driving conditions, and rain and surface water flooding should be expected on roads.
If there is a threat to life always call 999.
Useful contacts
No electric? Report a power cut
Sewer Flooding: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, 0800 052 0130
Gas Emergency: National Gas Emergency Service, 0800 111 999
River Flooding: Natural Resources Wales, 0300 065 3000
Posted on 13/11/2025