UK weather: Thunderstorms, ‘frequent lightning & intense rain’ to hit TODAY as Met Office issues yellow warning
THUNDERSTORMS, gusty winds, heavy rain and “frequent lightning” are set to hit today – with the Met Office issuing a severe weather warning.
Parts of Britain will be lashed with up to 40mm of rain in just two hours, according to forecasts.
A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms comes into effect at 9am and lasts until 6pm.
The national weather agency said on X: “A wet day for a few.”
Forecasters said the weekend will bring frequent heavy showers – some thundery – with a chance of hail and strong winds.
The rainfall expected today could be more than England saw during the entire month of May.
Met Office data shows England recorded 32.8mm of rain last month – almost half the usual monthly average.
It is expected to cause travel chaos, with the forecaster adding there will “probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes”.
Householders have been warned of potential power cuts.
Dan Suri, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected for much of Saturday, before they fade from the west during the mid-to-late afternoon.
“It’s possible that 10-15mm of rain could fall in less than an hour, while some places could see 30-40mm of rain over several hours from successive showers and thunderstorms.
“Frequent lightning, hail and strong, gusty winds are also possible.”
He added: “While brisk winds ensure that most places in the warning area will be hit by showers, not all places will see thunderstorms.
“In this case it’s difficult to predict where exactly thunderstorms will hit because they are small and fast changing.
“One analogy we use to picture the complexity of this forecasting challenge is comparing it to boiling a pan of water and having to guess exactly where and when the bubbles will appear.
“We know some will, but only in certain places, and that is why thunderstorms are so hard to predict.”
Where is covered by the weather warning today?
- East Midlands
- East of England
- London & South East England
- South West England
- Wales
- West Midlands
Conditions are expected to improve on Sunday, with a drier day forecast for many, though showers may linger in parts of the north and east.
The Met Office forecast for tomorrow says: “Sunny spells and scattered showers, these heaviest and most frequent in the north.
“Turning cloudier from the northwest later with further showers outbreaks. Breezy for many and feeling rather cool.”
UK 5-day forecast
Today:
Widespread showers may be heavy, bringing a risk of hail and thunderstorms across England and Wales.
Heavy outbreaks in southern Scotland merge into longer spells of rain at times too.
Becoming gusty in passing showers, with occasional sunny spells too.
Tonight:
Daytime showers largely easing and clearing gradually eastwards, with clear spells developing overnight.
Breezy with a few showers arriving in the west by dawn, and feeling cooler than recent nights.
Sunday:
Sunny spells and scattered showers, these heaviest and most frequent in the north.
Turning cloudier from the northwest later with further showers outbreaks. Breezy for many and feeling rather cool.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Changeable with a mixture of sunshine, scattered showers and longer spells of rain this week.
Breezy and feeling cool at first, but temperatures on the rise by midweek.