Heavy thunderstorms will batter much of the UK on Saturday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning for potentially dangerous conditions including flooding, lightning strikes and power cuts.
The warning covers England's Midlands, South East, East Anglia and parts of the North West and North East from early Saturday morning until late evening. Isolated areas could be hit by 20-30mm of rain within an hour, with some locations seeing 40-50mm over several hours.
Scotland's southern regions, including the Scottish Borders and parts of Dumfries and Galloway, also face thunderstorm risks. Wales is under the same warning, with southern and central areas particularly vulnerable to heavy downpours and lightning.
Temperatures will remain mild at 18-22°C before the storms arrive, but wind speeds could reach 20-30 mph during heavy downpours. The combination threatens localised flooding, difficult driving conditions and public transport disruption.
Residents should secure loose outdoor items and prepare for potential power cuts from lightning strikes. The Met Office warns against touching electrical equipment during storms and advises drivers to reduce speed and avoid standing water, which can be deceptively deep.
"If driving, use headlights and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility," forecasters said. "Never attempt to drive through floodwater."
The unsettled conditions will persist into Sunday for some areas, though showers are expected to be less severe than Saturday's storms. The Met Office will update warnings as conditions develop.