The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for 42 areas across the United Kingdom, forecasting intense thunderstorms accompanied by frequent lightning and large hail. The warning is in effect from 3pm on Tuesday until late evening, covering regions including the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East England, North West England, South West England, West Midlands, Yorkshire, and Humber.
Thunderstorm Details and Risks
According to the Met Office forecast, while many areas will remain hot and sunny, isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and into the evening. These storms could bring frequent lightning, large hail, gusty winds, and the potential for 30mm of rain in less than an hour. Lightning is highlighted as an additional hazard.
Record May Temperatures
The UK has experienced record-breaking heat for May. On Monday, temperatures did not fall below 21.3°C at Kenley Airfield in south London, marking the warmest May night for the second consecutive day. The country also recorded its provisional all-time hottest meteorological spring temperature when Kew Gardens in southwest London reached 34.8°C on Monday. Tuesday could see temperatures climb to 35°C across large parts of southern England and Wales, possibly reaching 36°C, according to the Met Office. These forecasts cover the Midlands, South East, South West, East Anglia, and South Wales.
Regions Under Thunderstorm Warning
The full list of affected areas includes:
- East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
- East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Peterborough, Suffolk
- London and South East England: Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
- North West England: Cheshire East
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
- Yorkshire and Humber: South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Stay Informed
This is a breaking news story. For further updates, follow The Mirror on various platforms including WhatsApp, Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads, or visit The Mirror homepage.
