The Met Office has announced the exact time thunderstorms will hit parts of the UK today – immediately after the hottest day of the year was officially recorded
The Met Office has announced the exact time thunderstorms will hit the UK today – immediately after the hottest day of the year.
The record-breaking September heatwave has seen Brits swelter through six unseasonably warm days with temperatures above 30C in September for the first time. Saturday was named the hottest day of the year so far, with 32.7C recorded in Heathrow. Forecasters predict that Sunday could be the seventh day in a row that temperatures reach above 30C – but it won't all be sunshine and clear skies. A yellow thunderstorm warning spanning Northern Ireland, northern parts of England and Wales as well as southern Scotland has been issued by the Met Office from 2pm until 11.59pm on Sunday.
The warning means some people could be in store for flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds – with possible interruptions to road access and public transport if such circumstances were to occur.
Met Office meteorologist Rachel Ayers said: “As we go into the start of Sunday those showers across the South West will make their way north-eastwards into Wales and the Midlands and later on into northern England, Northern Ireland, and southern Scotland. Now these showers could be heavy and thundery too. So we do have a yellow thunderstorm warning out for those northern regions that I mentioned.”
She said that things will start to “brighten up a little” into Sunday afternoon, with the best weather seen in the South East. “It is (in the South East) that we will see those highest temperatures once again reaching into the low 30s, with 31-32C the forecast high for Sunday,” she said. And that would make it the seventh consecutive day that we’ve seen 30C recorded somewhere in the UK this September.”
Thunderstorms moving northwards, and feeling hot for most.
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain or drizzle in the far north. Elsewhere, patchy cloudy and sunny spells for many with thunderstorms developing and moving northeastwards. Still very warm or hot, particularly in southeast, but turning fresher from the northwest.
Thunderstorms clearing slowly northeastwards. Outbreaks of rain spreading southeast from northwest Scotland and Northern Ireland. Drier elsewhere with clear spells. Remaining warm and humid away from northwest.
Rain and showers continue to clear southeastwards with fresher conditions behind. Mostly dry elsewhere with sunny spells although further showers later. Cooler for most away from the far southeast.
Rain will eventually clear southeastwards on Tuesday, leaving mostly dry and sunny conditions. Cooler for all by Wednesday with some sunshine, although further rain later and into Thursday.
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