UK weather warnings

What to expect

• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
• Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
• Some communities might become cut off if roads flood
• Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes
• Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

Further details

A broad band of thunderstorms and heavy rain will move north across England and Wales on Thursday, perhaps becoming slow moving in the afternoon and evening. Accumulations of 20-30 mm in an hour is possible locally, while 30 to 40 mm can be expected fairly widely and up to 50 mm in a 12 hour period in places. There is a small chance that some places may see more than 50 mm in three hours and more than 75 mm through 12 hours, especially over east facing high ground. Lightning and hail of 1-2 cm will also be hazards.

What to expect

• There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds
• There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life
• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
• Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
• There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads
• There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

Further details

An area of heavy, thundery rain is expected to develop across France this afternoon and then run north across or close to parts of southeast and east England overnight. While there is a chance that the rain will remain offshore in the North Sea, it is more likely than not to affect at least parts of the highlighted area, which could see frequent lightning, hail and strong, gusty winds in addition to heavy rain. Some places may receive 30-50 mm of rain, much of this falling in less than three hours, with a lower chance of 50-75 mm in a few spots. There is a lot of uncertainty in the development and track of this weather system, but impacts currently look most likely in the north of the warning area later in the night, with clearer, drier conditions following from the south.