The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for 42 regions across the UK, effective from 3pm on Tuesday until late into the night. The alert covers parts of the East Midlands, East of England, London and South East England, North West England, South West England, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber.
What to Expect
The forecaster warns that while many areas will remain hot and sunny, isolated thunderstorms could develop during the afternoon and evening. These storms may bring frequent lightning, large hail, gusty winds, and up to 30mm of rain in less than an hour. The Met Office statement highlights that lightning could pose an additional hazard, and there is a risk of power cuts and flooding.
Record Heat Precedes Storms
The warning comes as the UK experiences record-breaking May temperatures. On Monday, the country recorded its hottest May night ever, with temperatures not falling below 21.3°C at Kenley Airfield in south London. Additionally, Kew Gardens in southwest London hit 34.8°C, the provisional all-time hottest meteorological spring temperature. Tuesday could see temperatures reach 35°C across southern England and Wales, possibly even 36°C, though thunderstorms may temper the heat.
Disruption Possible
The Met Office warns of potential disruptions, including delays and cancellations to train and bus services, power cuts, and difficult driving conditions due to spray and sudden flooding. There is also a small chance of rapid flooding of homes and businesses, with damage from floodwater, lightning, hail, or strong winds.
Heatwave Conditions
Many parts of England and Wales are expected to reach heatwave thresholds on Tuesday, with some areas experiencing five consecutive days of heatwave conditions by Wednesday. Already, eight locations in England met heatwave criteria by Sunday night, including Heathrow, Kew Gardens, and Northolt in London; Benson in Oxfordshire; Brooms Barn and Santon Downham in Suffolk; and High Beech and Writtle in Essex.
Affected Regions
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
