The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of Scotland, cautioning that slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause localised flooding and disruption. The warning is in effect from 1pm to 9pm on Wednesday.
Affected areas include Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Moray, Highland, and Perth and Kinross. The agency warns that some flooding of homes and businesses is possible, leading to potential damage to buildings or structures.
Stormy conditions expected
The stormy conditions are expected to bring lightning, gusty winds, and hail. Rainfall could accumulate to 15-25mm in one to two hours, with up to 40mm possible over three to six hours.
This alert comes shortly after the Environment Agency declared half of England to be in drought. A large area of central, eastern, and southern England is experiencing flash drought, a type that develops quickly due to very low rainfall and high temperatures.
Drought-affected regions
The extreme heat over the past couple of months has caused drought across East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, Thames Valley, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Devon, Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex, which covers Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire.
Households in the affected Scottish areas are advised to prepare a flood plan and an emergency flood kit. This should include insurance documents, a list of contact numbers, a torch and spare batteries, a first-aid kit, prescription medicines, warm waterproof clothing and blankets, bottled water and snacks, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, and supplies for babies or pets.
Preparedness advice
Brits should also prepare for potential power cuts by stocking up on torches and batteries, having a mobile phone power pack, and keeping other essential items on hand.
