Households across the UK are being urged to prepare seven emergency items as multiple weather warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms are in force. Two separate yellow warnings for thunderstorms have been issued by the Met Office across England and Wales on Thursday and Friday, with households urged to brace for possible flash flooding and power cuts.
Warnings in force across England and Wales
Warnings are already in place in much of England and Wales, across 73 areas including London, Manchester, Nottingham, York, Liverpool and Leeds. From 5pm on Thursday another 14 areas will be hit with another yellow warning for thunderstorms and possible flooding, including Hull, Norwich and Dover.
Households in the warning areas are being urged to prepare for the unsettled weather by putting together a flood plan and an emergency flood kit, which includes seven essential items.
Seven essential items for the emergency kit
These items include basic supplies like torches and batteries, key documents and phone numbers, as well as water, food and medication. In its advice on protecting homes from flooding, the Met Office says: “Think about putting together an emergency flood kit with essential items that will help you cope in a flood, including:
- Insurance documents and list of contact numbers
- Torch and spare batteries
- First aid kit and any prescription medicines
- Warm waterproof clothes and blankets
- Bottled water and snacks
- Battery or wind-up radio
- Supplies for looking after your baby or pet
“Make sure that everyone knows where to find this kit and what to do if flooding happens.”
Friday forecast: heavy thundery rain possible
The Met Office says in its warning for Friday: "An area of heavy, thundery rain is expected to develop across France this afternoon and then run north across or close to parts of South East and east England overnight. While there is a chance that the rain will remain offshore in the North Sea, it is more likely than not to affect at least parts of the highlighted area, which could see frequent lightning, hail and strong, gusty winds in addition to heavy rain.
"Some places may receive 30-50mm of rain, much of this falling in less than three hours, with a lower chance of 50-75mm in a few spots. There is a lot of uncertainty in the development and track of this weather system, but impacts currently look most likely in the north of the warning area later in the night, with clearer, drier conditions following from the south."
