Met Office issues flood warning - thunderstorms expected until the weekend

Lightning strike near St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay.
Lightning strike near St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay.
Owen Humphreys
Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 17/06/2021

- 01:00

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:58

The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning

Stormy weather has hit the UK, breaking a long stretch of warm weather across the nation.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for almost all of England over the next four days with thunderstorms and flooding expected in some parts.


A motorist gets stuck in flood water along the A84 near Callander, Stirlingshire. Picture date: Saturday February 20, 2021.
Flooding is expected in England.
Jane Barlow

Rain began to fall on Wednesday, which fell short of becoming the hottest day of the year so far when a high of 29.2C (84.56F) was recorded at Heathrow, short of the 29.7C (85.46F) peak felt in Teddington, Middlesex, on Monday.

The Met Office’s yellow warnings mean people could see flooding to homes and businesses, communities becoming “cut off”, power cuts and delays to public transport following heavy rainfall.

The rain will be pretty heavy with up to 30mm falling in quite a short timeframe

Strong winds and hail could also pose problems while the Met Office said lightning strikes could cause delays to train and bus services.

Road closures could also follow while motorists have been warned to expect poor driving conditions.

The thunderstorms are the result of a small, low-pressure system moving in from Europe, with warmer surface-level air meeting colder upper air.

Storms began to build across the English Channel on Wednesday afternoon and reached the southern coast of England at around 7pm.

Forecaster Simon Partridge told the PA news agency: “The rain will be pretty heavy with up to 30mm falling in quite a short timeframe.

“It will be a horrible night for many, especially when you’re trying to get some sleep, remaining quite hot and humid in London and the South East, at around 17-18C, combined with the damp weather.”

It brings to an end days of sunshine in which the public has revelled, with thousands flocking to parks and beaches to soak up the rays.

Thunderstorms are expected to continue until the weekend.

England’s much-anticipated Euro 2020 clash with Scotlandat Wembley Stadium on Friday evening could be hit with bands of “heavy thundery showers”, forecasters say.

However, most of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern parts of Wales are expected to escape the wet weather, with these areas avoiding the yellow weather warnings.

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