Weather: Thunderstorm warning for Wales and England
- Written by Paul Piggott and PA Media
- BBC News
The Met Office has issued three thunderstorm warnings in place affecting parts of the southern UK
Almost a month’s worth of rain could fall in less than 24 hours in southern parts of the UK, with Met Office thunderstorm warnings in force.
The yellow warning covers south and parts of mid Wales and southwest England until 18:00 GMT on Sunday.
This warning was upgraded to amber for parts of Devon and Somerset on Sunday and continues until 16:00.
Another yellow thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the east Midlands and south-east England.
The forecaster warned that people’s lives could be in danger.
Sixteen of Wales’s 22 local authorities are covered by a yellow thunderstorm warning.
Homes and businesses could also be at risk of flooding quickly in “heavy rain”, with water levels potentially reaching 70mm (2.8 inches) in some areas, the Met Office said.
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Buildings can also be damaged by lightning, hail, or strong winds as well as flood waters.
The forecaster added that there is a “small chance” of power outages or loss of other services to homes and businesses, while some communities may be cut off by flood waters.
People planning to travel face the possibility of sudden delays or cancellations of trains and buses.
Roads may be closed at short notice due to drizzle and flash flooding and “difficult driving conditions” are expected on roads that remain open.
Yellow warnings for parts of England
Another yellow warning for thunderstorms covering the East Midlands and south-east England is in force until 06:00 on Monday.
The Meteorological Office said that half a month’s rain could fall within an hour.
The area is expected to receive between 30 to 40 mm (1.2 to 1.6 in) of rain, which is equivalent to at least half the September average of 55 to 60 mm (2.2 to 2.4 in).
Heavy rain dumped heavy rain on southwest England on Sunday morning, with localized flooding in south Devon.
The rain band is expected to move into south-east England on Sunday afternoon.
Jonathan Vautrey, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “There is a potential for these thunderstorms to become severe” and bring “gusty winds with very heavy rainfall”.
More storms are likely as the remnants of Hurricane Lee, which struck New England in the US and eastern Canada, is set to move across the UK between Tuesday and Thursday.
It will not become a hurricane by the time it reaches UK shores.
“The jet stream will pick that up. It could be heavy rain in some places with the risk of more thunderstorms,” Vautrey said.
“It could be quite an unsettled fall week.”
