Millions of motorists across the UK are being advised to fill their fuel tanks before midday on Friday as the country braces for the impact of Storm Claudia.
Met Office Issues Amber Alert
The Met Office has issued an amber weather alert for rain, effective from 12 noon on Friday. Storm Claudia, which was named by the Spanish Meteorological Service due to its ongoing effects on the Canary Islands, is expected to cause significant disruption across southern and central parts of England and Wales.
Wider yellow warnings for both rain and wind are also in place, indicating a very wet and windy day for much of England and Wales. The heavy rain is forecast to spread northwards through the warning areas on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday morning.
RAC's Essential Driving Guidance
Ahead of the severe weather, the RAC has released crucial advice for drivers. A spokesperson emphasised the importance of vehicle checks, stating that windscreen wiper blades should be inspected to ensure they are fully functional.
If front or rear wiper blades are not performing correctly, they should be replaced immediately. For owners of older vehicles, upgrading to more effective 'aero' wipers is recommended, particularly for clearing water at higher speeds.
The motoring organisation also issued a specific fuel-related warning. "Try to fill up with fuel before you travel," the guidance says. Getting stuck in traffic will significantly increase fuel consumption, a situation made worse by the need to use lights, heaters, and wipers, which further reduces fuel economy.
Weekend Weather Outlook
According to a BBC Weather forecast, Friday will be windy and wet across the south, with heavy and potentially torrential rain. Northern parts of the UK can expect a mostly dry day with sunny spells, though scattered showers are likely in coastal areas of northern and eastern Scotland.
The outlook for the weekend suggests cloudy conditions with patchy rain lingering over England and Wales on Saturday. The weather is then expected to turn colder for Sunday and Monday, with some showers drifting towards eastern and northward-facing coasts, while other areas remain mostly dry with sunny spells.
