Met Office names 32 UK areas facing heavy rain and thunder in hours - full list
Rain and thunder is set to arrive soon.
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain across 32 areas of the UK. Stormy conditions are expected to develop on Thursday evening and continue into the night, bringing the risk of flooding, lightning strikes, hail, and strong gusty winds in some areas. Forecasters warned that the thunderstorms may cause disruption to travel, power supplies, and local infrastructure in places.
The first Met Office warning is in place from 3pm to 11:59pm on Thursday June 26, with a second yellow alert coming into force in just a few hours from 6pm to 11:59pm. The first warning, which is now already in force, covers northern Scotland, including the regions of Grampian, Highlands and Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland and Strathclyde.
The Met Office wrote: "Rain will become heavier, more persistent and more widespread during Thursday afternoon and evening with thunderstorms then potentially also developing in some places. Rainfall amounts will be highly variable but narrow corridors of 20-30 mm falling in 1 hour and potentially 30-50 mm in 3 hours is possible. Frequent lightning, large hail (2-4 cm diameter) and locally gusty winds with stronger storms."
The second yellow alert comes into force from 6pm. It was last updated at 3:10pm on Thursday with the Met Office saying the warning area has been extended further north and east for the latter part of Thursday evening.
The weather warning covers London and South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands, where thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected to develop later in the day and into the evening.
The Met Office said Somerset recorded around 18,540 lightning strikes in a 24-hour period. The London Fire Brigade received around 400 calls overnight including reports of two house fires believed to have been caused by lightning strikes, as well as flooding incidents affecting homes.
The UK's record for the hottest June day has now reportedly been broken for the second day in a row, with 36.4C provisionally recorded earlier on Thursday in Yeovilton, Somerset. A red warning for extreme heat is currently in place until 11:59pm covering the East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands. Another amber warning for extreme heat is also in place until 11:59pm on Thursday.
The meteorological service has advised people in the affected areas to consider if their location is at risk of flash flooding. If this is the case, then they should consider preparing a flood plan as well as an emergency flood kit.
Before gusty winds arrive, check to ensure moveable objects or temporary structures are well secured. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences.
In case of a power cut, consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items to be prepared.
If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car). The Met Office has urged people not to shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area move to lower ground.
Met Office names 32 UK areas facing thunderstorms
London & South East England
- Hampshire
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Plymouth
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Torbay
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
Grampian
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
