WARNING FOR THUNDER TODAY Met Office map shows where the country will be hit by storms, heavy rain and flash flooding
The forecast says showers and thunderstorms will begin between 1pm and 8pm, hitting parts of England including Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Oxford.
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding could hit parts of Britain today, the Met Office warned.
Rain is expected to begin between 1pm and 8pm today across large parts of central and northern England, including Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Oxford.
The warning warns that there is a ‘possibility’ of some damage to buildings due to lightning strikes in affected areas.
Flash flooding is likely in ‘several homes and businesses’ due to heavy rains.
Forecasters added that there was a ‘good chance’ that driving conditions would be affected by spray, standing water and hail which could strand commuters traveling by car or bus, and delays to trains are also possible.
A map shows which areas will experience storms, heavy rain and flash flooding today
It has forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms across parts of central and northern England, including Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester and Oxford, between 1pm and 8pm today (picture taken in Leeds on Tuesday)
While most of London is not expected to be affected by the wet weather, it will hit parts of Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire.
The Met Office said 20mm of rain could fall in less than an hour, with one or two places getting 30mm in two hours.
It suggests that people should unplug any unnecessary equipment that is not protected by a surge protector before a lightning strike. It adds that anyone caught outside should take shelter if possible and highlights that lightning can strike up to ten miles from the storm’s center.
Thunderstorms earlier this week wreaked havoc on runways, roads and train lines, while some schools were closed due to flash flooding.
A funnel cloud was also seen moving across the countryside near Camelford, Cornwall, on Tuesday, while road floodwaters closed parts of the M6 near Coventry.
Train services in the south of the country were also particularly affected, with Southern and Thameslink trains in East and West Sussex disrupted due to extreme weather.
Manshade Academy closed for the day on Tuesday due to storms in Bedfordshire
The M6 northbound carriageway between J2 and J3 near Coventry is also closed due to flooding due to ongoing rain on Tuesday. Highways England said they were trying to clear the road
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said there would be a clear division of weather between the south-east and north-west of the UK over the weekend, with more thunderstorms forecast for western Scotland and Northern Ireland.
He said: ‘After some thundery showers in central and eastern England on Thursday, the UK is transitioning to a more general weather pattern over the weekend, with high pressure in the south and low pressure further north and west, although with some very warm or hot air first in the south and east.
‘Official heatwave criteria could be met for parts of southern and eastern England, with highs in the low 30s on Sunday in the southeast, but even elsewhere temperatures could still reach the high 20s.
‘Temperatures are likely to remain very high overnight, so it is important for those who may be more vulnerable to heat to take precautions.’
‘This is a marked contrast to further north-westers, who will see periods of rain from the west over the weekend.
‘Western Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to receive the highest totals, possibly in excess of 40mm in places on Saturday night, with a few thunderstorms mixed in on Sunday, making for a largely unsettled weekend in the region.’
‘Temperatures are set to drop early next week, with many areas feeling slightly cooler, although temperatures will still be above long-term averages.’
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