As the UK experiences a sweltering heatwave, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms expected to bring an abrupt and dramatic change to the weather later this week. Forecasters predict the equivalent of an entire month’s rainfall will deluge the nation, potentially causing severe disruptions.
The warning, covering a vast swath of England from Devon to County Durham and extending into parts of Wales, including Cardiff and Newport, is set for Thursday. Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey highlighted the severity of the expected downpours, with some areas anticipated to receive between 70mm and 90mm of rain within just an hour.
“These are particularly heavy downpours. Some isolated areas should expect between 70mm and 90mm an hour, a lot of rain in a short space of time on Thursday,” Maxey said. She noted that such intense rainfall is not unusual for the summer months, where significant precipitation can occur in just one or two showers, unlike the more persistent rain seen during winter.
England typically sees an average of 75mm of rain throughout August, while Wales averages about 112mm. The forthcoming storms could deliver more than half of August’s typical rainfall to parts of mid-Wales in just one day.
The impending storms are expected to mark the end of the current “mini heatwave,” with temperatures soaring into the 30s Celsius on Tuesday before the thunderstorms arrive. The sudden weather shift poses risks of flooding and disruptions to travel and power supplies.
Residents across the affected regions are advised to prepare for the potential impact of the storms, which could include significant flooding in some areas due to the rapid accumulation of rainfall. The Met Office, along with local authorities, is monitoring the situation closely, urging the public to stay informed through weather updates and to heed any advisories issued.
The dramatic weather shift underscores the broader effects of climate variability, which has been manifesting in increasingly extreme weather patterns across the globe. As the storms approach, communities are urged to secure properties, clear drains and gutters, and stay abreast of the latest weather forecasts as the situation develops.
