UK Weather: Storm and rain warnings in place
Britain has been catapulted from settled summer-like weather, to stormy hell thanks to a band of low pressure. Nearly all of England, parts of Scotland and parts of Wales, have been placed under a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms.
Tomorrow, the Met Office says, an area of low pressure will approach the UK from the east, bringing heavy and, in places, prolonged rainfall.
"The precise track of the low pressure will determine how far west across the UK the heavy rain will reach," the forecaster said.
Chief meteorologist, Andy Page, said: "The area of low pressure developing in the southern North Sea will push a band of heavy rain north and west across the UK.
"Areas exposed to the strengthening northerly winds are most likely to see the highest rainfall amounts, though exact details regarding the track of the low and thus where we might see the highest rainfall totals remains uncertain.
"Warnings are likely to be updated as more details emerge, and it is important therefore, that people to keep an eye on the forecast."
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READ MORE: Met Office issues urgent thunderstorm warning as more areas battered by chaos
Casey Cooper-Fiske
Met Office warns of more heavy rain
The Met Office has warned of more heavy rain this evening.
In its forecast for this evening, it said: "Showers continuing for some this evening but tending to ease further west.
"A more persistent area of heavy rain will arrive in the southeast spreading northwest overnight. Murky on some coasts especially in the east."
Cally Brooks
Rain hits large parts of the UK this evening
36 flood alerts have been issued across England this evening.
Cally Brooks
Met Office warn motorists to 'take care' on the roads
The Met Office have urged motorists to be careful this evening as "heavier rates of rain" develop across the UK.
\u2014 Met Office (@metoffice) May 21, 2024Take care if you're travelling on the roads in southeast England this evening\ud83d\ude97
Heavier rates of rain are developing across parts of #London and #Essex and these may turn thundery giving sudden downpours and around 20mm of rain in under an hour \ud83c\udf27\ufe0f#WeatherAware \u26a0\ufe0f pic.twitter.com/OAdFlP839E
Victoria Chessum
Horror map shows severity of storms
Maps show much of central England will be hit with storms tomorrow.
\u2014 Met4Cast. (@Met4CastUK) May 21, 2024Some very high rainfall totals are likely across parts of northern England & Wales tomorrow with totals likely to exceed 50-60mm in places.
Potential for localised flooding! Risk of thunderstorms in the south too, a rather messy day! pic.twitter.com/vQExGa9ZCo
Cally Brooks
A separate warning for rain is in place
A separate warning for rain will also be in place for the Midlands and north of England from 12.15am on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday.
The thunderstorm warnings state there could be sudden downpours leading to difficult driving conditions, disruption to trains and buses as well as the chance of flooding and power cuts.
Cally Brooks
Met Office map shows which areas can expect thunderstorms this evening
The forecaster posted on X showing which areas can expect thunderstorms this evening.
They wrote: "Slow moving heavy downpours and #thunderstorms for parts of southwest England, Wales and Northern Ireland this evening."
\u2014 Met Office (@metoffice) May 21, 2024Slow moving heavy downpours and #thunderstorms for parts of southwest England, Wales and Northern Ireland this evening\u26c8\ufe0f
Longer spells of rain across southeast England and East Anglia, possibly thundery in places\ud83c\udf27\ufe0f
Drier elsewhere with some warm evening sunshine\ud83c\udf24\ufe0f pic.twitter.com/QaGmabimUp
Cally Brooks
Thunderstorms currently recorded across the UK
According to lightningmaps.org, thunderstorms are currently being experienced across the UK.
Areas near Norwich, Thetford, Plymouth, Dartmoor, and Tonypandy have been recorded as having lightning strikes.
Map shows areas currently experiencing thunderstorms (Image: lightningmaps.org)
Cally Brooks
Weather warnings in place until Thursday
A number of weather warnings are in place until Thursday for thunderstorms and rain.
The Met Office has warned flooding could come as a result of heavy rain over the next few days.
There is also a chance of "power cuts".
Cally Brooks
Met Office issues urgent thunderstorm warning as more areas battered by lightning chaos
The Met Office has widened its thunderstorm warning zone to cover more towns and cities after a deluge of rain, hail, thunder and lightning. Initially, the storm was set to hit parts of Northern Ireland and some parts of Cornwall.
But now large swathes of Wales and some towns in the West Midlands and large areas of the south east are poised for chaotic weather later today. It comes into force from midday and ceases at 9pm.
A statement from the forecaster said: "Warning has been updated to extend into Wales and other parts of west and southwest England.
"Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon across parts of southwest England, Wales and the West Midlands before slowly dying out during the evening.
"Many places will miss the worst, but where they do develop, some slow-moving and intense downpours are possible, giving accumulations of 20-30 mm in around one hour, and a lower likelihood of 40-50 mm in 2-3 hours in a few locations.
"Frequent lightning strikes and hail are also possible."
The Met Office have issued a number of warnings (Image: Met Office)
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