The Met Office has issued an amber thunderstorm warning for London and much of south-east England, with forecasters warning that heavy rain could pose a danger to life. The warning is in force from 4am to 11am on Saturday, when downpours could bring “fast flowing or deep flood water”.
Yellow thunderstorm warnings are also in place across much of England until 9pm, with 15 to 25mm of rain possible in under an hour. Scotland has a separate yellow warning for rain from 4pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday. The storms, moving in from France, could lead to “significant surface water flooding” during Saturday morning, particularly in urban areas.
Motorists have been urged to take care, with the weekend expected to be busy on the roads as many schools in England and Wales break for the summer holidays. The Met Office said flooding of homes and businesses was likely and could happen quickly, and that some communities could be cut off if roads flood.
Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said: “The situation is evolving, and warnings may be changed or added.” He added that there would be “spells of more pleasant weather in parts of the UK through the weekend, with some sunny spells in between systems”. Temperatures are expected to stay in the high teens to low 20s, but could reach the mid to high 20s in the south during brighter spells.
The amber warning is the first for London since January 2024, when Storm Henk swept through central parts of England and Wales. It follows England’s hottest June since records began in 1884. Scientists said earlier this week that record-breaking extreme weather was the new norm in the UK, driven by carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels.
