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UK weather: Amber warning as thunderstorms set to bring flash floods UK weather: Yellow warnings as thunderstorms could bring flash floods
(32 minutes later)
Get set for storms: UK weekend weather forecastGet set for storms: UK weekend weather forecast
Parts of the UK are bracing for potentially dangerous flash flooding as thunderstorms and torrential rain are set to arrive over the weekend. Yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain are in place for much of the UK, bringing potential for flash flooding.
An amber weather warning came into effect on Saturday morning, when more than a month's worth of rain is forecast to fall in a matter of hours. Most of England falls under the alert which runs until 21:00 BST and may cause disruption to travel, fast-flowing water and power cuts, the Met Office says.
The Met Office says fast-flowing and deep floodwaters are likely, leading to road and transport disruption, as well as power cuts. A separate yellow rain warning covers eastern Scotland from the Borders up to Aberdeen, running from 16:00 on Saturday until noon on Sunday.
The warning for torrential downpours comes days after a third UK heatwave of the year that parched swathes of the UK and led to several hosepipe bans being declared. It follows the agency issuing a more severe amber thunderstorm warning for London and south-east England which ended at 11:00 on Saturday, though the "torrential downpours" forecast were not as bad as feared.
The wet weekend comes after a third heatwave of the year that parched swathes of the UK and led to several hosepipe bans being declared.
The recent warm spell has made flooding more likely and severe as the dry ground is unable to absorb as much water.
While the more severe warning is now over, the yellow thunderstorm warning in place for Saturday afternoon covers all of England except for the south west.
Why drought can lead to dangerous floodingWhy drought can lead to dangerous flooding
Thunderstorms are rolling in across large parts of the countryThunderstorms are rolling in across large parts of the country
This will make flooding more likely and severe as the dry ground will not be able to absorb as much water. All of Cornwall and much of Devon fall under a separate yellow warning for rain from midday on Sunday until the early hours of Monday.
The amber warning covers a stretch of the south coast, London and Cambridge, and is in force from 04:00 BST to 11:00 on Saturday. This is alongside the rain warning in eastern and central Scotland, which runs overnight on Saturday.
Between 20 and 40mm of rain could fall within an hour in this area, the Met Office has warned, which could accumulate to 70-100mm in just a few hours. Wales and Northern Ireland have escaped the alerts.
It said homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, which will happen "quickly", while this amount of surface water will make driving difficult and may lead to road closures. Yellow alerts indicate a "slight chance" of power cuts, flooding for roads and businesses and some delays and cancellations to train and bus services, according to the Met Office.
Lightning strikes, hail and strong winds may also cause train and bus cancellations.
A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms is in place for the rest of eastern, central and northern England until 21:00 on Saturday.
Amber warnings indicate there is an increased chance severe weather could affect people's day-to-day lives, including a potential danger to life. Yellow warnings are less severe.
The last amber warning over London was in January 2024, when Storm Henk hit parts of central England and Wales, according to the Met Office.
Thunderstorms develop when warm and humid air exists below much colder air in the atmosphere. This destabilises the air, allowing clouds to form and produce heavy rain - and storms.Thunderstorms develop when warm and humid air exists below much colder air in the atmosphere. This destabilises the air, allowing clouds to form and produce heavy rain - and storms.
The thunderstorms will develop initially over northern France but they will be allowed to "grow" as they move north over the eastern half of the UK on Saturday. They have developed over northern France but they will be allowed to "grow" as they move north over the eastern half of the UK on Saturday.
Residual parts of the storm will linger for the rest of the weekend in some places.
A yellow warning for rain covers eastern Scotland from 16:00 on Saturday until midday on Sunday, while a yellow rain alert comes into effect for Cornwall and much of Devon from midday on Sunday until the early hours of Monday.
Last week's heatwave brought travel disruption, a number of water-related deaths and hosepipe bans being declared for millions living in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex.Last week's heatwave brought travel disruption, a number of water-related deaths and hosepipe bans being declared for millions living in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex.
One might think a heavy dose of rainfall would help reduce these drought conditions, but because the rain will be very heavy in localised areas, it will run off the dry, baked earth rapidly, perhaps overwhelming local sewers and waterways.One might think a heavy dose of rainfall would help reduce these drought conditions, but because the rain will be very heavy in localised areas, it will run off the dry, baked earth rapidly, perhaps overwhelming local sewers and waterways.
A substantial recovery in reservoir and groundwater aquifer levels would require a more sustained spell of wet weather.A substantial recovery in reservoir and groundwater aquifer levels would require a more sustained spell of wet weather.
Yorkshire's hosepipe ban is expected to last until winter.Yorkshire's hosepipe ban is expected to last until winter.
Thunderstorms following a heatwave in the summer of 2022 brought flash flooding to London and the surrounding areas, flooding roads and Tube stations.Thunderstorms following a heatwave in the summer of 2022 brought flash flooding to London and the surrounding areas, flooding roads and Tube stations.
The rainfall also caused cancellations and delays at Gatwick Airport.The rainfall also caused cancellations and delays at Gatwick Airport.