The Met Office has issued a second yellow thunderstorm warning for the North East, effective from 2pm to 9pm today, as the region braces for more severe weather after an earlier warning brought lightning strikes, power cuts, and a school closure.
Earlier Storms Cause Disruption
The previous yellow thunderstorm warning, which ran from midnight to 10am this morning, caused significant disruption across the North East. Many residents were woken by thunder, and the region experienced multiple power cuts. A school was forced to close after a lightning strike.
New Warning Details
The new warning covers the North East and parts of Yorkshire. According to the Met Office, "Whilst most places will miss them, scattered thunderstorms may break out this afternoon and early evening. Where storms do occur, heavy rain, large hail, gusty winds and frequent lightning are all possible with 15 to 30 mm rain falling in a short space of time in a few places."
The warning is classified as a very low likelihood of medium impact across the affected area. The full list of areas includes Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, and Sunderland.
Advice and Precautions
The Met Office advises residents to secure moveable objects such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences against sudden gusts. With rail delays already occurring due to high heat, further disruption from downed lines or trees on tracks is possible. Travellers are urged to check their plans before leaving.
Power cuts have already been reported across the North East. The Met Office recommends preparing torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack, and other essentials. If caught outside during a thunderstorm, seek shelter in a safe enclosed space like a car, avoid trees or structures that could be struck by lightning, and move to lower ground if in an elevated area.
