The UK is bracing itself for a barrage of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for significant swathes of England, Scotland, and Wales. From 13:00 BST, residents in these areas can expect intense downpours that could bring up to 40mm of rain in just a few hours, accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 mph.
Forecasters predict isolated thunderstorms will develop across central, northern, and eastern England, southern and central Scotland, and northern and central Wales. The specific areas at risk include the East Midlands, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, South West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber in England; Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, and Strathclyde in Scotland; Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Powys, and Wrexham in Wales. Northern Ireland is not included under this warning.
The Met Office warns that localised flooding could occur, leading to difficult driving conditions and road closures. Public transport may experience delays or cancellations, with a slight chance of power cuts and disruptions to services. Residents are advised to prepare for rapidly changing weather conditions.
Despite temperatures reaching highs of 20-22 degrees Celsius in southern England on Sunday, the Met Office cautions against underestimating the potential impact of the thunderstorms, which can bring sudden drops in temperature during downpours.
This warning comes after a mixed week of weather across the UK. The Met Office will continue to monitor the situation closely and urge residents to stay updated with the latest forecasts and warnings.