The UK is bracing for a deluge of thunderstorms as a warm and humid airmass brings heavy downpours across the country, threatening localised flooding and travel chaos. Temperatures will reach up to 25 degrees Celsius in some parts of England before the storms hit.
Conditions are ripe for thunder and lightning activity, with high humidity combining with warmer temperatures to create the perfect storm. Wind speeds are expected to be light to moderate, but stronger gusts could accompany individual storm cells.
Southern and eastern England will bear the brunt of the downpours, with a risk of surface water flooding in urban areas. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may see scattered thunderstorms, but all regions must remain vigilant for sudden changes in weather conditions.
The Met Office advises staying up-to-date with forecasts and warnings, and offering practical safety tips to stay safe: secure loose outdoor items, drive cautiously due to reduced visibility and slippery roads, and avoid floodwater. Power outages are also a possibility in areas hit by severe lightning.
This brief spell of stable weather is giving way to the familiar pattern of warm air leading to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms – a common feature of British summers.