Storm Claudia is set to batter the UK this Friday and Saturday, bringing torrential rain, flooding, and winds of up to 70mph to large parts of England and Wales. If you’ve been putting off that wobbly fence post repair, you might be about to pay the price.
The Storm That Could Flatten Your Fence
Storm Claudia will bring very heavy rainfall to central and southern England and Wales, with some areas seeing up to a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours. But it’s not just the rain you need to worry about.
The Met Office has warned of gusty winds in the northwest of England and northwest Wales, with 60-70mph gusts possible in exposed places. That’s more than enough force to snap weakened fence posts or topple entire panels.
Why Fence Posts Fail in Storms
When extreme weather hits, it’s always the same story: fence posts that were already compromised give way completely. Here’s what happens:
Saturated ground – Much of the rain will fall on already saturated ground, which means the soil around your fence posts will turn into a soggy mess with zero grip. Posts that were standing firm in dry conditions suddenly have nothing holding them in place.
Rotten posts – If your wooden posts have been slowly rotting at ground level, the combination of waterlogged soil and high winds will exploit every weak point. What looks like a solid fence on Friday morning could be flat on the ground by Saturday.
Wind loading – A 6-foot fence panel acts like a sail in strong winds. When gusts hit 60-70mph, the force on each post is immense. If your posts aren’t properly secured or have deteriorated, they simply can’t cope.
The Problem With Traditional Repairs
Most people faced with a damaged fence post have two options, and both are terrible:
- Dig out and replace the entire post – Backbreaking work that involves digging through concrete, removing panels, and potentially damaging neighbouring posts. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and impossible to do in the middle of a storm.
- Prop it up and hope – A temporary fix that never stays temporary. Before you know it, you’re looking at the same problem all over again.
The Post Buddy Solution
This is exactly why we developed the Post Buddy System. Our innovative fence post repair system lets you fix damaged, rotten, or leaning posts without digging, without concrete, and without replacing the entire post.
Here’s how it works:
- Rapid installation – Fix a failing post in under 30 minutes
- No excavation – The Post Buddy anchors alongside the existing post
- Stronger than the original – Our system provides superior support and won’t rot like timber
- Works with any fence type – Compatible with wooden posts, concrete posts, and various fence styles
- Weather-resistant – Built to withstand the worst British weather can throw at it
Should You Act Before Storm Claudia Hits?
If you’ve got wobbly posts right now, Friday’s storm could be the final straw. The good news? A Post Buddy repair can be completed in the time it takes to watch a football match.
Before the storm:
- Check your fence line for any movement or lean
- Look for posts that wobble when pushed
- Inspect ground-level timber for rot or damage
- Pay special attention to corner posts and gate posts (these take the most force)
If you find problems, you’ve still got time to act before Storm Claudia arrives.
After the Storm: Quick Recovery
Even if your fence doesn’t make it through the weekend, the Post Buddy System means you can have it back up and secure within hours, not days or weeks. No waiting for contractors, no massive bills, and no weeks of looking at a collapsed fence.
Some areas could see in excess of 150mm of rain during the event, with 60-80mm fairly widely. That’s a lot of water, and it’s going to leave ground conditions soft for days afterwards – making traditional concrete-based repairs even more difficult.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Storm Claudia is just the latest in a series of extreme weather events hitting the UK. By the weekend, conditions will improve with drier and brighter weather in the north, but the damage will be done.
Whether you’re preparing for this storm or repairing damage from the last one, the Post Buddy System offers a permanent, professional solution that you can install yourself.
Ready to secure your fence before the storm hits?
Order your Post Buddy System today and don’t let Storm Claudia turn your fence into firewood.