A man and woman navigate a boat on Monnow Street November, Monmouth, Wales. Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
LISBON, Nov 15 (Epicstorian News ) — Authorities in Portugal said Storm Claudia killed three people and caused dozens of injuries, as emergency services across Portugal and Britain responded to severe flooding, tornado damage and coastal infrastructure failures.
Officials in Britain said rescue operations expanded through Saturday after Storm Claudia reached Wales and England, producing intense rainfall that overwhelmed rivers and urban drainage systems.
Meteorological agencies in Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom linked the severe conditions to Storm Claudia, which moved across the Atlantic and intensified as it reached Western Europe.
Portugal’s National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection said districts in the Algarve, Setubal and Beja experienced some of the most damaging conditions since the start of the autumn storm cycle.
Storm Claudia intensifies emergency services deployment in Portugal
Rescue officials said an elderly couple was found dead inside their flooded residence in Fernao Ferro, south of Lisbon, after water entered the property during the night.
Civil protection commander David Rocha said neighbours alerted authorities when the couple could not be reached and flooding in the area worsened.
A third fatality occurred in Albufeira in the Algarve region, where a tornado linked to Storm Claudia overturned caravans and damaged coastal structures.
Regional commander Vitor Vaz Pinto said the victim, an 85-year-old British woman, was staying at a camping site affected by the tornado impact zone.
Twenty-eight people were injured at a nearby hotel, and officials said two remained in hospital with serious injuries as medical teams stabilised additional victims.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered condolences to affected families and said authorities would continue coordinating support to injured residents and international visitors.
Portugal’s weather institute IPMA issued amber alerts across multiple southern districts, warning that Storm Claudia could produce additional flooding and landslides due to saturated soils.
Storm Claudia causes tornado damage in the Algarve
Emergency officials said caravans, service units and visiting holiday vehicles were destroyed when the tornado entered the camping zone.
Fire brigades established a temporary command structure near Albufeira to coordinate evacuation routes and medical triage areas.
Authorities said energy supply interruptions occurred after strong winds and debris damaged distribution infrastructure in coastal towns.
Local councils said community shelters opened in multiple Algarve municipalities for residents unable to remain in damaged homes.
Tourism officials said the storm struck during an active travel period, and consular teams were in contact with foreign nationals needing emergency documentation or support.
Storm Claudia triggers flood alerts and rescue operations across Wales and England
In Britain, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said teams conducted evacuations, water rescues and welfare checks in Monmouth and surrounding communities.
The Welsh government said Storm Claudia produced significant flooding that affected residential properties, businesses, transport services and local energy networks.
Aerial footage showed water entering town centres and residential districts after river levels rose during the night.
Natural Resources Wales issued severe flood warnings for communities threatened by rapid river overflow.
The Environment Agency for England said there were at least forty-nine active flood warnings and more than one hundred flood alerts linked to Storm Claudia.
The agency said hazardous travel conditions required coordination between emergency services and local authorities.
Rail operators said multiple routes experienced cancellations due to submerged tracks and infrastructure assessments.
Road authorities closed sections of highways and local roads until flood levels receded and debris could be cleared.
Storm Claudia disrupts critical transport and power infrastructure
Energy operators in Wales said power interruptions were reported in coastal areas following wind damage to transmission lines.
Utility engineers conducted site inspections and deployed repair teams to restore supply to the most affected neighbourhoods.
Air transport officials said some airports reported operational delays and temporary restrictions due to Storm Claudia weather conditions.
Local councils asked residents in vulnerable areas to follow evacuation notices and avoid travel near high-risk flood zones.
Buses and emergency vehicles were redirected as emergency services expanded field coordination centres.
Storm Claudia follows a series of severe European weather systems
Europe has faced multiple high-impact storms in recent seasons, which meteorological agencies have linked to changing atmospheric and oceanic patterns.
Britain’s Met Office said the frequency of intense rainfall events has increased in parts of the United Kingdom.
Portugal’s IPMA said the Atlantic storm cycle has produced several significant weather systems affecting the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain’s AEMET weather agency said Storm Claudia delivered high winds and coastal turbulence in Spanish Atlantic provinces before moving north.
Hydrology researchers tracking rainfall movement said saturated river basins increased the potential for rapid urban flooding.
International climate monitoring organisations have reported growing concern regarding the resilience of European coastal and river infrastructure.
Storm Claudia adds pressure to emergency services and policy planners
The Welsh government said additional support could be provided to affected councils under existing flood response frameworks.
Officials in Portugal said funding may be directed toward reinforcing drainage networks and flood barriers in frequently impacted regions.
Bilateral coordination mechanisms exist between Portugal, Spain and Britain for monitoring transnational storm systems, according to civil protection authorities.
Local weather monitoring centres said real-time data remained essential as Storm Claudia continued to influence regional systems.
