The Met Office has issued three separate yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms affecting 112 areas across the UK, urging households to prepare to turn off their gas, water and electricity supplies. The warnings come into effect from midnight tonight and bring the risk of heavy downpours, hail, frequent lightning and strong winds.
Heavy Rain and Flooding Risk
Up to 20mm of rain is expected to fall in an hour in parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, rainfall could reach up to 30mm in the same timeframe, with 30-50mm possible within a three-hour window. The Met Office warns that the unsettled weather could lead to power cuts and flash flooding.
Households in the warning areas are urged to prepare an emergency flood plan, which includes turning off gas, water and electricity supplies. The advice also recommends preparing an emergency flood kit, charging mobile phones, and storing valuables up high to avoid water damage.
Met Office Safety Advice
In its guidance for staying safe during a thunderstorm, the Met Office stated: "It's never too late to take action and prepare for flooding. Follow these six simple steps to protect your home or business: Check the flood advice in your area to know when and where flooding will happen; charge mobile phone devices; park your car outside the flood zone; prepare a flood kit to help you cope in the event of flooding to your home and business; store valuables up high, including electrical devices, important documents and furniture; turn off gas, water and electricity supplies."
If trapped in a building by floodwater, the Met Office advises: "Go to the highest level in the building you are in; do not go into attic spaces to avoid being trapped by rising water; only go to a roof if necessary; call 999 and wait for help."
How to Safely Turn Off Utilities
Residents should only switch off gas, water and electricity supplies if it is safe to do so, and must not touch an electrical switch while standing in water. The water stop tap is usually found inside the home where the water supply enters, or outside near the property boundary. The gas shut-off valve is next to the gas meter, and the mains electricity cut-off is on the fuse board with a large on/off switch.
The National Grid advises: "If flood water is about to enter your property, turn off your electricity supply using the isolator switch or fuse unit. Only attempt this if it's safe to do so, and never take any unnecessary risks. You can speak to your insurer or a qualified electrician if you need further advice. Your meter could be inside your property or outside in a dedicated meter cabinet."
The National Grid also warns: "Never touch any electrical appliances, cables, or equipment while standing in floodwater. Please don't touch any appliances, cables, or equipment that has been touched by floodwater, as they may not be safe."
List of 112 Areas Under Yellow Warning
The following areas are covered by the yellow thunderstorm warning from midnight tonight:
East Midlands
- Derby
- Derbyshire
- Leicestershire
- Nottingham
- Nottinghamshire
London & South East England
- Hampshire
- Oxfordshire
North East England
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- Redcar and Cleveland
- South Tyneside
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland
North West England
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cumbria
- Greater Manchester
- Halton
- Lancashire
- Merseyside
- Warrington
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Torbay
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Wrexham
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Shropshire
- Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Telford and Wrekin
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
Yorkshire & Humber
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- North Lincolnshire
- North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- York
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
Northern Ireland
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
