The Met Office has issued a stark warning for Friday's weather: a 24-hour yellow thunderstorm alert covering no less than 31 areas across the UK. Heavy rain, lightning, hail, and gale-force winds threaten to bring travel chaos, power cuts, and flash flooding to affected regions.
Forecasters predict that some areas will experience between 30-50mm of rainfall within just a few hours, with isolated spots facing the risk of up to 60-80mm. This downpour heightens the threat of localised flooding in urban areas where drainage systems are already stretched.
The warning spans a wide swathe of the country: England's North West, West Midlands, South West, and parts of Yorkshire are all included, while much of Wales is under alert with particular emphasis on central and southern regions. Northern Ireland is significantly impacted, covering most of its territory, whereas Scotland largely escapes this warning – although scattered showers remain a possibility.
The Met Office advises the public to prepare for travel delays, especially on roads and public transport networks, as surface water flooding could make driving conditions treacherous. There's also a risk of hazardous road conditions and some closures. People are urged to secure loose outdoor items and avoid unnecessary travel during the storms' peak if possible.
Temperatures will remain mild in the lead-up to the storms, ranging from 18-22°C across affected regions – fuelling the atmospheric instability. Wind speeds may gust up to 30-40 mph in stronger thunderstorms, increasing the risk of falling debris.