The Met Office has warned that power cuts, flooding and lightning strikes could bring disruption to 44 UK areas this afternoon and overnight. As many as 44 areas could be hit with power cuts, the loss of mobile phone signal and travel disruption due to thunderstorms, including 40 overnight.
Yellow weather warnings in place
The forecaster has issued a yellow weather warning in England, starting at 7pm on Wednesday, August 19, and lasting until 10am on Thursday. In Northern Ireland, thunderstorm warnings are in place from midday until midnight. In Scotland, yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms are in place from 2pm until midnight.
The Met Office is warning households to prepare for the possible loss of power and flooding by preparing a flood plan, emergency kit and gathering essential items such as a mobile phone battery pack, torches and batteries.
Met Office statement on the weather
The Met Office said in its warning: "Heavy showers and thunderstorms likely to lead to some travel disruption and flash flooding."
It added: "Heavy showers will develop this evening, becoming more frequent and widespread overnight. These are likely to bring 15 to 20 mm in an hour in some areas with as much as 30 to 50 mm falling in a period of six hours in some places. These accumulations may lead to a few places seeing some flooding. Alongside the rain, some showers are likely to be thundery, bringing the additional hazards of lightning and hail. The showers will ease from the northwest Thursday morning."
Advice and areas at risk
In its advice, it adds: "Consider if your location is at risk of flash flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit."
It also advises: "Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary."
It adds: "People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items."
Listed are the 40 UK areas covered by a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and at potential risk of flooding overnight — until 10am on Thursday in England and midnight in Northern Ireland: Derbyshire, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York, County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone.
