The UK is bracing itself for a day of intense thunderstorms and heavy rain as the Met Office issues widespread yellow weather warnings for 15 areas. Thursday's forecast looks grim, with the potential for downpours, lightning, and hail causing significant disruption across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Residents in these regions can expect torrential downpours, with some areas predicted to see between 30mm and 50mm of rain fall within a short space of time - potentially just a few hours. The combination of heavy rain and frequent lightning strikes poses a significant threat to local communities, particularly those in low-lying areas where drainage systems may struggle to cope.
The Met Office has identified vast regions across England for the yellow warnings, including the East Midlands, East of England, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, South West England, West Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber. This broad coverage means that major urban centres like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds are at risk, along with numerous towns and rural communities. In Scotland, the warnings cover Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, South West Scotland, Lothian & Borders, and Strathclyde - areas around Glasgow and Edinburgh are likely to be affected.
Northern Ireland is also entirely covered by the warning, with all counties at risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The Met Office warns that drivers can expect difficult conditions due to standing water and reduced visibility, which could impact road and public transport networks. There's also a risk of power cuts as lightning strikes damage infrastructure.
Temperatures will remain mild across the warned areas, ranging between 18°C and 22°C before the storms arrive - though they may dip during heavy rainfall. Wind speeds are generally light to moderate, but gusts of up to 30-40 mph are possible within thunderstorms. The Met Office advises people to check travel routes before departure and secure outdoor items that could be dislodged by strong winds.
Source: Met Office