Weather latest: Britain braces for floods as thunderstorm warnings come into force
Yellow and amber weather alerts have been issued across much of Britain.
Thunderstorm warnings are in place in most of England, with only the southwest escaping a potential deluge today.
The Met Office says there is a risk of sudden flooding, travel delays and power cuts.
London is facing its first amber warning since January last year, with forecasters cautioning there could be "torrential" rain.
The warning stretches from Hampshire to Kent and up to Cambridge, including all of London, until 11am.
Between 20 and 30mm of rain could fall in one hour in the amber warning zone, rising to 60-90mm in just a few hours where heavy downpours persist.
Some communities are "likely" to be cut off if roads flood and suffer cancellations to train and bus services, as well as power cuts, the Met Office said.
While the rain is already hammering down in the capital, Scotland faces a yellow warning for rain from 4pm today until midday on Sunday.
A separate yellow thunderstorm warning covers most of England and some parts of southern Scotland until 9pm.
The southwest of England won't be spared for long, with a yellow rain warning in place from midday tomorrow until 3am on Monday.
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Sky News
26 minutes ago
- Sky News
Parts of UK could see half a month's rainfall in next 24 hours
Parts of the UK could see half a month's rainfall in the next 24 hours, with lightening, hail and gusty winds also forecast. Much of Scotland, Northern Ireland, large parts of western England, and all of Wales will remain under yellow weather warnings until 10pm tonight. Another set of yellow warnings for thunderstorms will come in tomorrow, covering the southeast of England, the Midlands, the north of England, a small part of North Wales, and most of Scotland. Those warnings are due to last until 9pm on Monday. In Northern Ireland, a warning for thunderstorms for western areas is in place until 8pm today, while a rain warning is in place for eastern areas from 6pm tonight until 6pm Monday. Simon Partridge, Met Office forecaster, said: "It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. "They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours." The country records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a month's rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. It follows a period of already intense rainfall. Saturday's rain brought 47.2mm to Surrey's Charlwood - close to a month's worth. From 5pm yesterday to 1pm today, Scotland's Aboyne recorded 47.6mm. Over the next few days, flooding is possible, with more than 10 flood alerts active in Scotland. There is also a small chance of power cuts and a small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life. But even within the warning areas some places will stay dry, the Met Office said. "One bit of good news is that it has been very muggy overnight. Tonight will be less muggy across the southern half of the UK," Mr Partridge said. Will the warm weather return? Next week the weather will remain unsettled, with further thundery downpours across Britain, particularly in the south. Daytime temperatures will be average, becoming milder overnight. But as we head into next month there is "only a small chance of hot spells" between 25 July and 3 August, the Met Office says in its long-range forecast. But warmer weather may return as the month wears on. "There are signs that high pressure to the southwest may try to extend its influence across the UK, which could bring more in the way of dry, settled weather as we head further into August," the weather forecaster says. "Temperatures will likely continue to be near or above average overall, with a continuing chance of some very warm or hot spells, especially in the south and east, if high pressure wins out for a decent stretch of time."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
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Brit drivers told to pack seven emergency items in their car before 3am
Drivers have been issued travel advice following six yellow warnings for thunderstorms and rain across parts of the UK. The conditions should dampen England from 3am on Monday Brits have been urged to pack seven emergency items in their cars as the UK is set to be hit with half a month's rainfall in the next 24 hours. Drivers travelling to work in the morning have been told to brace themselves as six weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms have been put in place. Sadly, fierce conditions will strike parts of the country, with flooding, lightning and hail. As part of the alerts, Brits have been told to expect travel disruption across areas in the UK with Northen Ireland expected to be hit the worst. "You will see quite a lot of water on the roads and difficult driving conditions," warned Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge. According to Autotrader, the best way to minimise the impact is by preparing for traffic and bringing items including a phone charger, water and jump leads. Much of Scotland, northern England, Wales and the south-west of England remain under yellow weather warnings until 10pm on Sunday, where localised flooding remains possible. Eastern parts of Northern Ireland are covered by a 24-hour weather warning, from 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday, where heavy rain is expected to cause some disruption and the possibility of flooding. Mr Partridge said: "It looks like Northern Ireland is the place where we could see the most rainfall and certainly the most impactful rainfall. They could see 50 to 75mm of rain within 12 to 18 hours." The country records an average of 89mm of rain in July, meaning more than half a month's rainfall could hit Northern Ireland in less than a day. Flooding is also possible, the Met Office said, and parts of England and Scotland may also see 20-40mm of rain in just two hours on Monday. From 3am until 9pm on Monday, the south and east of England are covered by a yellow thunderstorm warning. By 11am the same warning will be in place for the Midlands, northern England and Scotland. More than 10 flood alerts remain active in Scotland and where there is flooding or lightning the Met Office has warned of a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. There is also a small chance of power cuts and a small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life. "Certainly a significant amount rainfall in a couple of hours, which will bring some local issues," Mr Partridge said. 'You will see quite a lot of water on the roads and difficult driving conditions. Hopefully nothing more significant than that, it certainly won't be an issue for any of the rivers because they are quite low." Low pressure and humid, moist air across the country will cause the heavy, thundery showers, but even within the warning areas some places will stay dry. "There is a good chance of seeing some lightning and some hail, with some gusty winds as well," Mr Partridge said. 'One bit of good news is it has been very muggy overnight. Tonight will be less muggy across the southern half of the UK.' The rest of the week is set to be changeable, with showers still likely on Tuesday and heavy, thundery showers possible in the south-east of England on Wednesday. Temperatures this week will hover around average for the time of year, the national weather service said. Keep these seven items in your cars Protein bars Torch Hi-vis clothes Jump leads Ice scraper Water Phone charger
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
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Thunderstorm and rain warnings issued for multiple counties
Met Éireann has issued status yellow thunderstorm and rain warnings for multiple counties covering parts of Sunday and Monday. Counties Clare and Cork are under a status yellow thunderstorm warning from 5:15pm until 7pm on Sunday. Advertisement Met Éireann is warning there will be heavy thundery downpours across parts of Cork and west Clare, and said there may be spot flooding, difficult travelling conditions, and possible lightning damage. In the north, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry are under a status yellow thunderstorm warning until 8pm on Sunday evening, while Antrim, Amragh, and Down are under a status yellow rain warning from 6pm Sunday until 6pm on Monday. From midnight on Sunday night, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, and Monaghan will be under a status yellow rain warning until 12pm on Monday. ⚠️Status Yellow Rain warning for Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow & Monaghan ⏲️Valid: 00:00-12:00 Mon 21/07/2025 ➡️Spells of heavy rain with a chance of isolated thunderstorms Potential Impacts: • Localised flooding • Poor visibility • Difficult travelling conditions — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) July 20, 2025 Met Éireann has warned of spells of heavy rain with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. The weather forecaster said the possible impacts include localised flooding. poor visibility, and difficult travelling conditions.
