Thunderstorms are set to drench millions of Brits this week with three Met Office warnings issued – half a month’s rain in the space of a few hours is on the cards
Brits up and down the country are set to endure some grim conditions in the coming days, with thunderstorms bringing torrential rain across many counties.
Met Office forecasters are warning that millions will end up caught in the deluge this week, with as much as half a typical month’s rainfall expected to fall in the space of a several hours. Thankfully, forecasters have also predicted the rough time when this set of thunderstorms will finally come to an end. Weather maps shared by the Met Office show vast swathes of the UK under yellow thunderstorm warnings from today until Saturday.
Most of Wales and the south-west of England, excluding the southernmost tip of Cornwall, are under a yellow thunderstorm warning from 12am to 1pm today with car, train and bus journeys expected to face some delays.
The whole of Northern Ireland will be under a warning from 6am to 9pm, with residents being warned of delays to train services and the possibility of short-term power loss.
Another thunderstorm warning has been issued on Friday for the entirety of East Anglia, Essex, Kent and much of Greater London and Sussex. The warning will remain in place between 3pm on Friday and will continue to about 6am on Saturday morning.
Met Office forecasters say there is a “small chance” some communities could be cut off by flooded roads and that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly. As much as 50mm of rain could fall over the duration of this third warning.
“Rain, heavy and thundery at times, will continue north and east throughout the day,” the Met Office said in its forecast for Thursday. “Brighter conditions behind, although some heavy showers at times. Warm and increasingly humid, despite the breeze.”
Forecasters added for Friday to Sunday: “Staying warm and humid on Friday with another spell of heavy and thundery rain developing, especially later. Staying changeable over the weekend with some further rain, but feeling fresher.”
Scotland and Northern England appear to escape the worst of the storms, with temperatures expected to hover around the teens throughout much of the week ahead. Thankfully “dry and fine weather” is expected later this month with daytime temperatures expected to trend around or above normal for this time of the year.
Toward the end of the month and into July, the warm weather is expected to shift into more changeable conditions. Rain or showers could be heavy and thundery once, which the Met Office said was “normal” for the time of year.