The Met Office has issued an 11-hour yellow thunderstorm warning for six areas in Scotland on Wednesday (August 5), with a risk of flooding and disruption.
Warning details
The warning is in effect from 9am to 11pm. The alert states: "Slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms may cause some disruption."
There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with potential damage from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, along with possible delays and cancellations to train and bus services. Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses are also possible.
Rainfall and impacts
Heavy, slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop from late morning. These could bring 20-30mm of rain in 1-2 hours, and perhaps 50mm in a few places over 3-6 hours, potentially causing localised flash flooding and impacts to the transport network.
Affected areas
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Perth and Kinross
- Grampian: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray
- Highlands & Eilean Siar: Highland
This warning comes as England and Wales provisionally recorded their driest July on record, with Southern England seeing its driest month ever recorded in a series dating back to 1836. Several parts of England are facing water restrictions such as hosepipe bans due to the lack of rain. United Utilities, which supplies water to north west England, says there are no plans to impose restrictions, but people should "use water wisely".
