The Met Office has issued two new yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms, with large hailstones up to 4 centimetres in diameter expected across parts of Scotland. The warnings come as the UK continues to experience a heatwave that brought record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday, with forecasts suggesting temperatures could reach 38°C on Thursday.
Warning Details and Timing
The first yellow warning is in effect from 3pm until midnight on Thursday, while a larger warning covers all of Scotland on Friday. The Met Office stated: "Spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms initially over northwest Scotland are likely to become more widespread during Friday morning. Further thunderstorms and spells of heavy rain are possible in the afternoon before becoming confined to more northern areas of Scotland later in the day."
According to the Met Office, rainfall amounts will be highly variable, but narrow corridors could see 20-30 millimetres falling in one hour, with potential for 30-50 millimetres in three hours. The warning also highlights the risk of frequent lightning, large hail (2-4 centimetres in diameter), and locally gusty winds with stronger storms.
Areas Affected by the Thunderstorm Warnings
The warnings cover 31 areas across Scotland, including Central, Tayside & Fife, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, and Strathclyde. Specific areas include Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, Orkney Islands, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, and West Dunbartonshire.
Impact and Precautions
The Met Office advises that the heavy rain and hail could lead to difficult driving conditions, potential flooding in some areas, and disruption to travel. Residents in affected regions are urged to stay updated on the latest forecasts and take necessary precautions.
