Thunderstorm Warnings Issued Amidst Widespread Drought Conditions
Heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and travel disruption expected across much of England and Wales on Wednesday.
Callum Smith
Thunderstorm warnings have been issued across the country for Wednesday.
England endured its driest July on record last month, leaving the landscape parched.
The West and East Midlands, the North West, South East, South West, East of England, and parts of Wales all face impact.
An initial warning takes effect from 3am on Wednesday, remaining active until 10pm.
A second weather warning for thunderstorms is also in effect from 06:00 BST to 22:00 BST on Thursday.
Potential consequences include surface water flooding, frequent lightning, large hail, and power cuts.
Forecasters warn of travel disruption, difficult driving conditions, and a small risk of fast-flowing floodwater.
Met Office indicated that The Met Office warns of flooding and disruption, with homes and businesses potentially flooding quickly; damage to some buildings from flooding, lightning strikes, or hail remains a threat.
Rail and bus delays are possible; spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures, according to the Met Office.
Additional hazards include large hail of up to 2cm, frequent lightning strikes, and gusty winds capable of damaging property and outdoor structures.
Many places will miss these intense storms, but where they occur, 20-30 mm of rain could fall in less than an hour, with perhaps 40-50mm in 2-3 hours in a few spots, leading to surface water flooding.
Rivers and reservoirs are running low, with some areas experiencing prolonged dry spells.
By July 15th this year, the UK had recorded more days above 30C than in the entirety of 1976.
Temperatures are predicted to rise, with warmer air moving in and pushing temperatures to 26C.
Thunderstorms frequently occur after hot weather due to rising warm air condensing and creating unstable atmospheric conditions.