The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms across the capital this weekend, with Londoners told to expect travel delays. The bad weather is forecast to hit at around 9pm tomorrow and last until 6pm on Saturday, July 19.
Major cities including Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester have also been told to brace themselves. Rainfall will likely be torrential, bringing 20 – 30 mm in less than an hour to many places, with 60 – 90 mm in under three hours possible in some regions.
Meteorologists are also predicting frequent lightning and large hail to strike a majority of England. Gusty winds are also likely.
Jason Kelly, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, said: “More warnings could be issued for the weekend and early next week. Keep an eye on the Met Office forecast for updates as the picture develops.
“Within the warm and humid airmass we will potentially see temperatures reaching 30°C or more for parts of eastern England by Friday, with very warm and muggy conditions continuing into the weekend in parts of central and southern England.”
Thunderstorms also bring an increased risk of high speed winds, meaning homes and businesses could be damaged. As such, it’s advisable to secure bins, plant pots, garden furniture and trampolines before the bad weather arrives.
Sudden flooding and spray is also likely, causing dangerous driving conditions and some road closures. There is also a chance a number trains and buses will be cancelled due to water levels or lightning strikes.
On Sunday (July 20), widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue, moving northwards across the UK throughout the day. However, there will be some drier and brighter spells and it will feel warm in the sunshine, particularly in the east and southeast.
The Met Office anticipates this unsettled pattern will continue into next week, with light rain and thunderstorms “at times”. Thankfully, temperatures will be near normal for the time of year, depending on how much sun peaks out from behind the clouds.
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