Two Met Office thunderstorm warnings are in force for Greater Manchester this week, with heavy rain, lightning and hail forecast to bring a risk of flooding and disruption.
The first warning begins at 3am on Wednesday, August 26, and lasts until 10pm the same day. This 19-hour alert covers 66 UK areas, including Greater Manchester and Cheshire in north west England.
When will storms hit Greater Manchester?
A second warning runs from 6am on Thursday, August 27, until 10pm, affecting larger parts of north west England including Blackburn, Lancashire and Merseyside.
Met Office maps show a band of rain sweeping over Greater Manchester between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday, moving in a north-western direction across the UK. After a break in rainfall, a second large band approaches on Thursday around 10am, with the heaviest rain passing over by 1pm. Further periods of rain are expected over the remainder of Thursday and into Friday.
Flooding and hail risk
For Wednesday's warning, the Met Office says there is a "small risk of flooding and disruption from thunderstorms", with the possibility of "large hail and frequent lightning".
"A band of heavy showers and thunderstorms is expected to move northwards on Wednesday morning," the Met Office warns. "Many places will miss these, but where they do occur they may be intense with 20-30 mm rain falling in less than an hour and perhaps 40-50mm in 2-3 hours in a few spots, leading to some surface water flooding."
Similar warnings of lightning and hail are in place on Thursday.
Drought and long-range forecast
The heavy downpours come as parts of England and all of Wales remain in drought after months of heatwaves and dry conditions. Greater Manchester remains in prolonged dry weather, the stage before a drought, and water supplier United Utilities has advised people in the north west to continue to "use water wisely".
The long-range forecast for the UK, covering August 30 to September 8, warns of an "unsettled period" ahead. "An unsettled period is likely, with showers or longer spells of rain possible across many parts of the UK," the Met Office says. "Some heavy rain is likely, perhaps with some thunderstorms too."
Rainfall amounts will probably be above average for the time of year, with potential for some strong winds. Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or very warm spells are possible, especially in the south.
