The Met Office has issued two yellow thunderstorm warnings covering Greater Manchester this week, with heavy showers and thunderstorms expected to cause disruption. The first warning is in effect from 3am to 10pm on Wednesday (August 26), and the second from 6am to 10pm on Thursday (August 27).
Warning areas and rainfall totals
The Wednesday warning covers much of England, including London and the South East, the Midlands, East Anglia, and parts of the North West, South West, and eastern Wales. It includes parts of Greater Manchester, specifically Stockport, Oldham, and Tameside. The Thursday warning covers all of Greater Manchester, along with large parts of England including the Midlands, East Anglia, the North West, Yorkshire, the South West, and much of Wales.
The Met Office warned that showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon "may be intense", with 20-30mm of rain falling in less than an hour and 40-50mm possible in two to three hours in a few spots, leading to some surface water flooding. The weather service also noted a "small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life", as well as a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds.
Forecaster's comments
Met Office Chief Forecaster Steve Willington said: "As we move into Wednesday there is a growing risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with warm and humid air helping to trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms. Some places could see significant amounts of rain falling in a short period of time, bringing the potential for localised flooding, travel disruption and frequent lightning."
He added: "On Thursday, slow-moving heavy and thundery rain may bring prolonged rainfall to some areas, increasing the risk of localised impacts. There remains some uncertainty around where the heaviest rain will fall, so it is important to keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings."
Hour-by-hour forecast for Greater Manchester boroughs
Below is the hour-by-hour weather forecast for each Greater Manchester borough on Wednesday and Thursday.
Manchester
Wednesday: Light rain from 7am to 9am (50-70% chance), light showers at 10am-11am (60-70%), sunny intervals at 12pm (40%), cloudy at 1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (50%), sunny intervals at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (60%), cloudy at 6pm (50%), sunny intervals at 7pm (50%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 24C at 4pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (10-20%), cloudy at 9am-10am (30-40%), light rain at 11am (60%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (70-95%), light rain at 9pm-10pm (60-70%), cloudy at 11pm (50%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 12pm-3pm.
Bolton
Wednesday: Light rain from 7am to 10am (60-70%), light showers at 11am-12pm (50-70%), cloudy at 1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (60%), sunny intervals at 3pm (50%), light showers at 4pm-6pm (50-60%), sunny intervals at 7pm (50%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 3pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-9am (less than 5% to 20%), cloudy at 10am (40%), light rain at 11am (50%), light rain at 12pm (60%), heavy rain from 1pm to 9pm (70-95%), light rain at 10pm-11pm (50-70%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 1pm.
Wigan
Wednesday: Light rain from 7am to 10am (60-80%), light showers at 11am-12pm (60-70%), sunny intervals at 1pm (40%), light showers from 2pm to 7pm (60-70%), partly cloudy from 8pm (40% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 23C at 3pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-9am (less than 5% to 30%), cloudy at 10am (40%), light rain at 11am-12pm (60%), heavy rain from 1pm to 9pm (70-95%), light rain at 10pm-11pm (60-70%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 12pm-3pm.
Rochdale
Wednesday: Cloudy at 7am (40%), light rain at 8am-9am (50-70%), light showers at 10am-11am (50-70%), cloudy at 12pm-1pm (40-50%), light shower at 2pm (60%), sunny intervals at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (50%), cloudy at 6pm (40%), sunny intervals at 7pm (40%), partly cloudy from 8pm (20% down to 10% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 3pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (10%), cloudy at 9am-10am (20-40%), light rain at 11am (50%), light rain at 12pm (70%), heavy rain from 1pm to 8pm (80-95%), light rain at 9pm-10pm (60-70%), light shower at 11pm (50%). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 20C at 12pm-3pm.
Stockport
Wednesday: Cloudy at 7am (40%), light rain at 8am-9am (60-70%), light showers at 10am-11am (60-70%), sunny intervals at 12pm-1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (50%), cloudy at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (50-60%), cloudy at 6pm (50%), sunny intervals at 7pm (40%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 2pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (10-20%), cloudy at 9am-10am (30-50%), light rain at 11am (60%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (70-95%), light rain at 9pm-10pm (60-70%), cloudy at 11pm (50%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 12pm-3pm.
Oldham
Wednesday: Light rain from 7am to 10am (70-90%), light showers at 11am-2pm (50-70%), cloudy at 3pm (40%), light shower at 4pm (50%), cloudy at 5pm-6pm (40-50%), sunny intervals at 7pm (30%), partly cloudy from 8pm (20% down to less than 5% by 10pm, then 10% at 11pm). Temperatures range from 15C at 7am to 22C at 3pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am (less than 5%), cloudy at 8am-11am (10-50%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (70-95%), light rain at 9pm-10pm (60-70%), light shower at 11pm (50%). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 20C at 12pm-1pm.
Bury
Wednesday: Light rain at 7am-9am (50-70%), light showers at 10am-12pm (50-70%), cloudy at 1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (60%), sunny intervals at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (50-60%), cloudy at 6pm (50%), sunny intervals at 7pm (40%), partly cloudy from 8pm (20% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 3pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (less than 5% to 10%), cloudy at 9am-10am (20-40%), light rain at 11am (50%), light rain at 12pm (70%), heavy rain from 1pm to 9pm (70-95%), light rain at 10pm-11pm (50-60%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 1pm.
Salford
Wednesday: Light rain at 7am-10am (50-70%), light shower at 11am (60%), sunny intervals at 12pm (40%), cloudy at 1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (50%), cloudy at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (60%), cloudy at 6pm (50%), sunny intervals at 7pm (50%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 2pm-5pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (10-20%), cloudy at 9am-10am (30-40%), light rain at 11am (60%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (70-95%), light rain at 9pm-11pm (50-70%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 12pm-1pm.
Trafford
Wednesday: Light rain at 7am-10am (50-70%), light shower at 11am (60%), sunny intervals at 12pm (40%), cloudy at 1pm (40%), light shower at 2pm (50%), cloudy at 3pm (50%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (60%), cloudy at 6pm-7pm (50%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 24C at 4pm.
Thursday: Sunny intervals at 7am-8am (10-20%), cloudy at 9am-10am (30-40%), light rain at 11am (60%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (70-95%), light rain at 9pm-11pm (50-70%). Temperatures range from 17C at 7am to 21C at 12pm-3pm.
Tameside
Wednesday: Light rain at 7am-9am (40-70%), light showers at 10am-12pm (50-70%), cloudy at 1pm (50%), light shower at 2pm (60%), sunny intervals at 3pm (40%), light showers at 4pm-5pm (50-60%), sunny intervals at 6pm-7pm (40%), partly cloudy from 8pm (30% down to less than 5% by 11pm). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 23C at 4pm.
Thursday: Cloudy at 7am-10am (10-40%), light rain at 11am (60%), heavy rain from 12pm to 8pm (80-95%), light rain at 9pm (70%), light showers at 10pm-11pm (50-60%). Temperatures range from 16C at 7am to 20C at 12pm-3pm.
