The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings as Storm Claudia brings heavy rain, gusty winds and flood alerts to the region. Travel disruption, power cuts and flooding are already being reported across Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.
Storm Claudia, named by the Spanish Meteorological Service, swept into Greater Manchester on Friday bringing persistent rainfall and strong easterly winds. The amber warning covered parts of northern England from midday Friday until midnight, with yellow warnings remaining in force until Saturday morning. Emergency services, the Environment Agency and local authorities are monitoring conditions closely as saturated ground increases flood risk.
LIVE Updates — Greater Manchester
15:30 GMT: Metrolink services suspended between Bury and Whitefield after fallen tree damages overhead lines. Engineers working to restore tram network.
14:45 GMT: M62 westbound exit slip at Junction 20 closed due to flooding. National Highways advising drivers to seek alternative routes.
13:20 GMT: Environment Agency confirms flood alerts active for Middle River Mersey catchment including Bramhall, Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.
12:10 GMT: TransPennine Express announces severe delays and cancellations across network. Speed restrictions in place until 08:00 Saturday.
11:45 GMT: Northern Rail reports reduced service on multiple routes including Liverpool Lime Street–Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly–Stoke/Crewe, and Windermere/Barrow–Manchester Airport.
10:30 GMT: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reports fallen tree incidents in Oldham. Elk Mill cordoned off for public safety.
09:50 GMT: Manchester Airport operations continuing but passengers advised to check with airlines for potential delays due to weather conditions.
08:40 GMT: Flood warning issued for River Mersey at multiple locations. Residents near low-lying areas urged to move valuables to higher ground.
08:15 GMT: Met Office confirms 40–60mm rainfall expected across Greater Manchester, with higher totals possible on elevated terrain.
07:45 GMT: National Rail issues “check before you travel” alert for all services across England and Wales. Storm-related disruption expected throughout Friday and into Saturday.
07:20 GMT: Greater Manchester Police urging motorists to avoid non-essential travel. Several roads reported flooded across the region.
07:00 GMT: Storm Claudia amber warning now in effect. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert warns some areas could see “up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours”.
Key Alerts — At a Glance
Met Office Warning Level: Amber (persistent and heavy rain) until midnight Friday; Yellow warning until 06:00 Saturday
Expected Rainfall Totals:
- 40–60mm widely across Greater Manchester
- Up to 80mm in some locations
- 100–150mm possible on higher ground in warning areas
Wind Gusts:
60–70mph possible in exposed areas of northwest England
Strong easterly winds exacerbating flooding risk
Areas Under Flood Alert:
Middle River Mersey catchment (Bramhall, Stockport, Sale, Altrincham, Urmston)
River Bollin catchment
River Mersey Uplands (Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne, Denton)
Worst Hours: Friday 12:00–23:59 GMT (amber warning period)
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What the Met Office Says — Storm Path and Scientific Analysis
Met Office Official Forecast
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert warned: “Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to a large swathe of central and southern England and Wales on Friday into Saturday. This rain will become slow-moving, and some areas could see up to a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours”.
“Much of this will fall on saturated ground, increasing the chances of flooding and contributing to the amber warnings we have issued. Within the amber warning areas, some could see in excess of 150mm accumulate during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely. Gusty winds in the northwest of England and northwest Wales is an additional hazard, with 60-70mph gusts possible in exposed places within the warning area”.
Why This Storm Produces Prolonged Rainfall
Unlike most Atlantic storms that cross the UK directly, Storm Claudia maintains its position to the west of the country, with associated weather fronts weakening slowly through Saturday. This positioning creates a persistent east-northeast flow of moisture-laden air.
The scientific mechanism involves:
Orographic Enhancement: Moist air from the east rises over elevated terrain in Wales and western England, cooling and condensing to produce intense rainfall totals of 100–150mm on higher ground.
Saturated Ground: Above-average rainfall over recent weeks means the ground cannot absorb additional moisture, increasing surface water flooding and rapid river level rises.
Slow-Moving Fronts: The storm’s westerly position causes weather fronts to stall over the same areas repeatedly, accumulating rainfall over 24+ hours rather than passing quickly.
Thunderstorm Enhancement: Embedded thunderstorms within the rain bands intensify downpours locally, with some locations experiencing exceptionally high rainfall rates.
Impact Analysis for Urban Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester’s urban infrastructure faces multiple pressures during Storm Claudia:
Transport Networks: Saturated embankments threaten rail lines, while surface water flooding affects road networks including the M60 and M62. The region’s dense transport infrastructure means cascading delays across rail, tram and bus services.
River Systems: The River Mersey, River Irwell, River Tame and River Bollin catchments are all on flood alert. Following record-breaking flooding on New Year’s Day 2025 when the River Mersey reached its highest level in 66 years, temporary repairs to flood embankments remain vulnerable.
Urban Drainage: Manchester’s combined sewer system struggles during intense rainfall. Surface water flooding is likely in low-lying areas including Manchester city centre, Salford Quays, and parts of Trafford.
Power Infrastructure: Gusty winds may bring down trees and power lines, causing localised power cuts affecting mobile phone coverage and heating systems.
Emergency Services Readiness
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, police and ambulance services have pre-positioned resources across the region. The Environment Agency has teams clearing debris from watercourses and preparing to operate flood defences when needed.
Emergency response includes:
- Multi-agency coordination through Gold and Silver command structures
- Flood storage basins at Didsbury, Sale, Lilford Park and Salford on standby
- Enhanced monitoring of river levels and rainfall totals
- Evacuation planning for properties near vulnerable flood embankments
- Public warnings through flood alert service and social media channels
Transport & Travel
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport remains operational but passengers are advised to check flight status with airlines before travelling. Strong crosswinds may affect take-off and landing schedules. Allow extra travel time due to road and rail disruption accessing the terminal.
Rail Services
TransPennine Express: Severe disruption with amended timetable from 13:00 Friday. Speed restrictions until 08:00 Saturday causing delays and short-notice cancellations.
- Cleethorpes–Liverpool services revised to Cleethorpes–Manchester Piccadilly only
- Hull–Liverpool services revised to Hull–Leeds only
- Scarborough–Manchester Victoria services revised to Scarborough–York only
- Glasgow–Manchester Airport/Liverpool services revised to Glasgow–Preston only
Northern Rail: Reduced service on key Greater Manchester routes:
- Liverpool Lime Street–Manchester Victoria (both directions)
- Liverpool Lime Street–Wigan North Western (both directions)
- Manchester Piccadilly–Stoke/Crewe (both directions)
- Windermere/Barrow–Manchester Airport (both directions)
- Southport–Manchester Oxford Road (both directions)
- Blackburn–Rochdale (both directions)
Avanti West Coast: “Do not travel” warnings issued for some services. Dozens of trains cancelled due to speed restrictions.
Tickets: Rail tickets dated Friday 14 November can be used on earlier services before 13:00 or on Saturday 15/Sunday 16 November at no extra cost.
Read More: Manchester Weather Today: Cloudy Skies and Patchy Drizzle
Metrolink Trams
Fallen tree between Bury and Whitefield has suspended tram services on this section of the network. Metrolink warns disruption may continue “for most of the weekend” while engineers repair overhead line damage. Alternative bus services may be provided—check Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) website for updates.
Motorways and Major Roads
M60: Monitor for flooding, particularly around junctions near river crossings. Standing water reported in places.
M62: Westbound exit slip at Junction 20 closed due to flooding. All lanes closed on exit.
Local Roads: Surface water flooding affecting roads across Greater Manchester. Avoid driving through flood water—even shallow water can cause loss of control and severe vehicle damage.
Bus Services
Bus services across the Bee Network may face delays due to flooded roads and traffic congestion. Check TfGM journey planner before travelling.
Before You Travel:
- Check National Rail Enquiries, TfGM and Metrolink real-time updates
- Allow significantly longer journey times
- Consider delaying non-essential travel until Saturday afternoon
If Driving:
- Never drive through flood water—30cm of flowing water can float a car
- Reduce speed in heavy rain and standing water
- Keep headlights on for visibility
- Maintain greater stopping distances
If Using Public Transport:
- Expect delays, cancellations and service alterations
- Download real-time journey apps
- Keep phone charged for updates
- Travel early if essential journey
Flood & Home Safety Advice
For Households:
- Check Flood Risk: Visit the Environment Agency website at check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 to check your postcode flood risk.
- Sign Up for Flood Warnings: Register to receive free flood warnings by phone, text or email at gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings.
- Move Valuables: If flood warning issued for your area, move important documents, electronics and treasured possessions upstairs or to a higher location.
- Prepare a Flood Kit: Assemble essentials including torch, batteries, power bank, warm clothing, medications, first aid supplies and bottled water.
- Move Vehicles: Park cars on higher ground away from low-lying areas and flood-prone streets.
- Clear Drains: Safely clear leaves and debris from drains and gutters around your property to help surface water drain away.
For Motorists:
- Avoid Flood Water: Never attempt to drive or walk through flood water. It may conceal deep water, strong currents, manholes or road damage.
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown: If you encounter a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route. Just 30cm of moving water can float a car.
Borough-by-Borough Updates
Manchester: City centre experiencing surface water flooding on low-lying roads. Metrolink services affected. River Irwell and River Medlock on flood alert. Residents near Didsbury warned of potential River Mersey flooding following New Year’s Day embankment damage.
Salford: Flood alert for River Irwell. Salford Quays and low-lying areas vulnerable to surface water flooding. Up to 44% of properties at long-term flood risk by 2050 according to recent analysis. Emergency services on standby.
Trafford: Flood alerts for River Bollin and Middle River Mersey affecting Sale, Altrincham and Urmston. Trafford Park industrial estate monitoring drainage. Travel disruption on roads and public transport.
Bolton: Rainfall totals 40–60mm expected. Bolton North East, Bolton South and Walkden, and Bolton West constituencies all at moderate flood risk. Local roads experiencing standing water. Public advised to avoid non-essential travel.
Bury: Metrolink services suspended to/from Bury due to fallen tree damage. Tram disruption expected through weekend. Flood risk from River Irwell and surface water. Around 15–19% of properties at flood risk.
Oldham: Fire service responded to fallen tree incidents including cordon at Elk Mill. Surface water flooding likely in urban areas. Oldham East/Saddleworth and Oldham West constituencies at 12–17% long-term flood risk.
Rochdale: Reduced rail service on Blackburn–Rochdale line. River Roch on flood alert. Surface water flooding expected in urban areas. Approximately 10–13% of properties face long-term flood risk.
Wigan: Very low flood risk according to latest Environment Agency data. However, Wigan locality identified as nationally important flood risk area requiring ongoing monitoring. Rainfall and gusty winds affecting transport networks.
Weekend Outlook and Cold Weather Alert
While Storm Claudia’s heavy rain will ease through Saturday morning, Greater Manchester faces a dramatic shift in weather patterns as the weekend progresses.
Saturday: Cloudy with lingering rain clearing eastwards. Becoming colder and brighter from the afternoon. Temperatures dropping noticeably.
Sunday: Cold and mostly dry with sunny spells. Overnight frosts developing. Temperatures falling below freezing in rural areas.
Monday–Friday (17–21 November): The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold weather alert for five regions including North West England from 08:00 Monday until 08:00 Friday. The alert warns “significant impacts are possible across health and social care services” with increased risk to those aged 65+, people with health conditions, and vulnerable groups.
Temperatures could drop as low as -5°C in rural Scotland by Monday, with widespread overnight frosts across northern England. Early snow possible on north-facing coasts and hills early next week.
Conclusion
Storm Claudia brings significant challenges to Greater Manchester with heavy rainfall, flood alerts and widespread travel disruption expected through Friday evening and into Saturday morning. The Met Office amber warning remains in force until midnight Friday, with conditions gradually improving Saturday but flooding impacts continuing through the weekend.
Residents should monitor official channels closely, avoid non-essential travel where possible, and take flood warnings seriously. Check your flood risk, sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings, and never attempt to drive or walk through flood water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Will schools close in Greater Manchester due to Storm Claudia?
Some schools across England have closed due to Storm Claudia, particularly in areas under amber warnings. Parents should check school websites, text alerts or local authority announcements for closures in Greater Manchester boroughs. Most Greater Manchester schools remained open Friday but travel disruption may affect attendance.
Q2: How much rain is expected in Manchester?
Greater Manchester is forecast to receive 40–60mm of rainfall widely, with some locations potentially seeing up to 80mm. For comparison, this represents a significant portion of November’s average monthly rainfall in just 24 hours.
Q3: Is Manchester Airport affected by Storm Claudia?
Manchester Airport remains operational. However, strong crosswinds may cause delays to some flights. Passengers should check flight status with their airline before travelling and allow extra time due to road and rail disruption accessing the airport.
Q4: Are trains running to/from Manchester?
Yes, but with severe disruption. TransPennine Express, Northern Rail and Avanti West Coast all report delays, cancellations and amended timetables. Many services are running reduced schedules. Check National Rail Enquiries before travelling. Rail tickets for Friday can be used Saturday/Sunday at no extra cost.
Q5: Is the Metrolink running?
Metrolink services are suspended between Bury and Whitefield due to fallen tree damage to overhead lines. This disruption is expected to continue “for most of the weekend.” Other Metrolink lines are operating but may face delays. Check TfGM website for real-time updates.
Q6: What should I do if my area has a flood warning?
If the Environment Agency issues a flood warning for your area: move valuables upstairs, prepare a flood kit, move vehicles to higher ground, keep away from swollen rivers, follow emergency services instructions, and monitor updates via Floodline (0345 988 1188).
Q7: Can I drive through flood water?
No. Never drive through flood water. Even shallow water (30cm) can float a car. Flood water may conceal deep water, strong currents, open manholes or road damage. Turn around and find an alternative route.
Q8: When will Storm Claudia end in Greater Manchester?
The amber warning expires at midnight Friday, with yellow warnings continuing until 06:00 Saturday. Heavy rain will gradually ease through Saturday morning, but flooding impacts may continue into the weekend as rivers remain swollen.
Q9: Will there be power cuts?
Power cuts are possible due to fallen trees and wind damage to power lines. The Met Office warns power cuts may occur in affected areas, potentially impacting mobile phone coverage. If you experience a power cut, contact your electricity supplier. Keep torches and power banks charged.
Q10: What flood alerts are active in Greater Manchester?
Active flood alerts include: Middle River Mersey catchment (Bramhall, Stockport, Sale, Altrincham, Urmston), River Bollin catchment, and River Mersey Uplands (Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne, Denton). Check your postcode at check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk for specific local alerts.
Q11: Is Storm Claudia a red warning?
No. The highest warning level for Storm Claudia in Greater Manchester is amber (significant impacts expected). Red warnings indicate severe impacts with danger to life, but none have been issued for this storm in Greater Manchester.
Q12: What is the weather forecast for Saturday in Manchester?
Saturday will see lingering rain easing through the morning, then turning colder and brighter through the afternoon. Temperatures dropping significantly. Sunday brings cold, clear conditions with overnight frosts possible. By Monday, a yellow cold weather alert comes into force for northern England with temperatures potentially reaching -5°C in rural areas by Monday night.
For the latest updates:
Met Office: metoffice.gov.uk and @metoffice on social media
Environment Agency: check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188
Transport for Greater Manchester: tfgm.com
National Rail: nationalrail.co.uk
Greater Manchester emergency services: Follow @gmpolice, @manchesterfire on social media
Stay weather aware, stay informed, and look out for vulnerable neighbours during the cold snap arriving next week.