The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with households in 20 areas advised to avoid using landline phones until after 10pm this evening.
Warning details and affected areas
Two separate yellow warnings are in force for Tuesday, August 4. In Scotland, the warning runs from 12pm noon until 10pm, with heavy downpours of 15 to 20mm per hour possible and up to 40mm accumulating in three hours. Hail and lightning may accompany the thundery showers, continuing into the evening.
In Northern Ireland, the warning is active from 9.15am until 9pm, with up to 30mm of rain expected, along with strong winds and hail.
The 20 areas covered include all six counties of Northern Ireland, as well as parts of central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, and Strathclyde.
Safety advice during thunderstorms
Residents in affected areas are warned to prepare for potential flooding, power cuts, and travel disruption, including train and bus delays and flooded roads that could isolate communities.
To stay safe, households are urged to avoid using landline phones unless in an emergency, as telephone lines can conduct electricity. If lightning strikes near phone lines, a high-voltage current can travel through the wires and into the handset, causing an electric shock.
Similarly, mobile phones should not be used while plugged in to charge, as power surges can travel through the charger. Non-essential appliances should be unplugged before a thunderstorm.
Wireless devices, such as unplugged mobile phones or cordless landline phones, are safe to use indoors as they have no physical connection to outdoor metal wires.
Official guidance
The Met Office advises: “Lightning can cause power surges, unplug any non-essential appliances if not already using a surge protector. Seek shelter if possible, however, keep away from underground or low-lying spaces such as car parks, basements or underpasses which might flood rapidly.”
It adds: “When you hear thunder you are already within range of where the next ground flash may occur, lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from the centre of a storm. During the thunderstorm, telephone lines can conduct electricity so try to avoid using the landline, unless in an emergency.”
The British Red Cross similarly advises turning off and unplugging non-essential appliances to prevent damage from power surges, including internet routers and plugged-in devices. It states: “You’ll have to wait until the storm has passed before it’s safe to watch TV, but you can still use a tablet or laptop if they’re not plugged into the main power supply. You should also avoid using landline telephones that plug into the wall, but mobile telephones are safe.”
