The Met Office has updated its yellow weather warning, highlighting the potential for slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms in parts of England and Wales. Central and southern England, along with east and southeast Wales, are expected to be most affected on Thursday afternoon and evening. Torrential downpours may result in up to 5cm (2in) of rain in an hour or two, with a small chance of up to 10cm (4in) over a few hours. The warning also includes gusty winds, lightning, large hail, and the possibility of flooding.
Last minute storm chase today:
Location: Near Petersfield, UK
Reports:
– marble-sized hail
– frequent lightning
– flash flooding
– weak wall cloudPeriod: 17:00-19:00 pic.twitter.com/GFEdYWi5xZ
— UK Weather Live (@UKWeatherLive) August 1, 2024
The area covered by the yellow warning has been slightly reduced since Wednesday’s predictions but remains active until 11:59 pm. Showers and thunderstorms could potentially re-develop overnight in eastern England. Flood alerts have been issued for areas in Birmingham, specifically parts of the Upper Tame and the River Stour, Rea, and Cole, as well as the River Blythe in Warwickshire.
In Nottinghamshire, the River Maun, Trent, and Leen are on alert, along with several smaller brooks and tributaries around London. England’s flood warning service has released pre-emptive advisories due to the heavy rainfall forecast, although there is low confidence regarding the exact timing and locations.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health warnings across most of England, excluding the northeast and northwest, until Friday. This comes as Tuesday marked the hottest day of the year, with temperatures reaching 32C (89F) in Kew Gardens and Heathrow, surpassing the previous high of 31.9C.
On Thursday, temperatures are expected to remain warm, around 28C (82F) or higher, before cooling slightly on Friday but staying humid. Overnight temperatures could remain high, and advice has been provided to help people sleep better, such as opening windows at night for cooler air and keeping curtains or blinds closed during the day.
