The Met Office has issued an extended yellow thunderstorm warning for 31 areas across the UK, as the country continues to experience a heatwave with record-breaking temperatures. The warning covers London, South East England, South West England, Wales, and the West Midlands, and is in effect from 6pm to 11pm on Thursday.
What to Expect
The forecast predicts frequent lightning strikes, strong winds up to 60mph, and hailstones. According to the Met Office, "After another very hot day, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move northeastwards during Thursday evening and night. Whilst many areas will miss them, thunderstorms may produce sudden, gusty winds with 50 to 60mph possible. Frequent lightning, hail and heavy rain are additional hazards."
Additional Warnings for Scotland
Two yellow thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for Scotland. The first runs from 3pm until midnight on Thursday, while a larger warning covers all of Scotland on Friday. The Friday warning states: "Spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms initially over northwest Scotland are likely to become more widespread during Friday morning. Further thunderstorms and spells of heavy rain are possible in the afternoon before becoming confined to more northern areas of Scotland later in the day."
Hail and Rainfall
Hailstones up to 4cm in diameter are possible, with rainfall amounts highly variable. The Met Office warns of "narrow corridors of 20-30 mm falling in 1 hour and potentially 30-50 mm in 3 hours."
Heatwave Continues
The thunderstorm alerts come alongside a rare red warning for extreme heat. Temperatures reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire on Wednesday, breaking the previous June record of 35.6C set in 1976. The Met Office said the exceptional heat will spread northwards on Thursday, with the possibility of temperatures reaching 38C or even 39C, which would be the second hottest day on record.
Impact and Disruption
The heatwave has led to health warnings, school closures, and transport disruption. The red warning for extreme heat covers an area from London and the south coast to Swansea, Somerset, and Birmingham until late Thursday, with "significant disruption to daily life likely."
Full List of Areas Affected by Extended Warning
- London and South East England: Hampshire
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Torbay, Wiltshire
- Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan
- West Midlands: Herefordshire
