World News
UK Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and potential flash flooding
Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms drifting from France are forecast to affect parts of England and Wales on Wednesday and Thursday.
The short version
- The UK Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms covering Wednesday and Thursday across parts of England and Wales.
- Warm, humid air moving north from France is expected to trigger storms capable of producing lightning, large hail, gusty winds, and up to 50mm or more of rain in short periods.
- Dry, hard ground in drought-affected areas may heighten the risk of flash flooding due to reduced absorption capacity.
- Forecasters note that the exact timing and location of individual thunderstorm hits remain difficult to pinpoint precisely.
Key facts
- The first yellow weather warning begins at 03:00 BST on Wednesday and runs until 22:00 BST, covering parts of southern England, London, East Anglia, east Wales, the Midlands, and northern England.[BBC News]
- A second thunderstorm warning is scheduled from 06:00 BST to 22:00 BST on Thursday.[BBC News]
- Impacted areas could see 20 to 30 millimeters of rainfall in under an hour, with localized totals potentially reaching 40 to 50 millimeters over two to three hours.[BBC News]
- East-facing higher ground faces a small chance of receiving over 75 millimeters of rain over a 12-hour period on Thursday.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- The Met Office notes that the precise timing, location, and intensity of individual thunderstorms are subject to uncertainty due to how rapidly localized storms form.[BBC News]
Sources
- Yellow weather warnings issued as thunderstorms and flooding forecastBBC News - Top Stories