A new weather warning has been issued by the Met Office ahead of an expected bout of thunderstorms and heavy rain over the coming weekend. The Met Office has cautioned that the affected areas should be prepared for possible damage to buildings from lightning strikes, interruptions to public transport, and potential flooding. The initial alert for thunderstorms on Friday encompasses much of southwest England, parts of Wales, the Midlands, and west London and is effective from 12 noon until 8 pm. These regions may experience rainfall of 15-24 mm per hour before easing off later on Friday. The second warning for thunderstorms covers all of Saturday from 1 am until midnight on Sunday and includes Wales, southwest England, the Midlands, and parts of southeast England.
On Sunday, a third weather warning for rain has been issued for Wales and central southwestern England, with affected areas likely to witness between 50mm and 70mm of rainfall within a few hours, accompanied by hail and frequent lightning. This stormy weather follows a period of warm and dry conditions, with temperatures reaching 25C in Inverness on Wednesday and a similar high in southeast England on Thursday. The Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, Jason Kelly, commented on the situation, stating that thundery downpours have already begun in parts of southern England and will persist into Friday evening, bringing with them frequent lightning, gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain spells. The risk of thunderstorms is expected to continue into the weekend, with possibilities of longer spells of heavy rain in some areas, along with a continued risk of hail and lightning during the most intense storms.
Kelly noted that the warnings cover the areas most prone to thunderstorms, but not every location within the warning zones will necessarily experience a thunderstorm. For many, the weather is likely to remain dry for the most part despite the warnings.
These weather warnings serve as a precaution for residents and travellers in the affected regions to stay safe and be aware of the potential risks associated with the upcoming thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.