Thunderstorms to strike England as Met Office issues flood and travel warnings
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for southern England and parts of Wales, as thunderstorms are expected to bring sudden flooding and travel disruption.
London and south-east England, south-west England, Wales, and the West Midlands are all expected to be struck by the wet conditions. Heavy rain is projected to begin on Wednesday evening and continue through until Thursday morning.
The yellow warning for the south-west of England begins at 8pm on Wednesday and continues until 8am the next morning. The warning for the area including London and the south-east begins at 11pm and continues until 6am on Thursday morning.
Up to 50mm of rain could fall across the affected areas. The conditions could bring “spray and sudden flooding” leading to difficult driving conditions and potential road closures, the Met Office said.
Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services, with power cuts also a possibility.
The Met Office said: “There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.”
The forecaster recommends assessing your flood risk, checking your travel routes ahead of time, and preparing for power cuts.
If you are outside during the lightning, seek shelter somewhere like a car, don’t stand next to trees or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on high ground, seek lower ground and avoid water.
If you believe there is a risk of flooding, remove loose items outside your home like bins or plant pots that could be come hazardous during a flood.
Lightning can cause power surges, so it’s wise to unplug any non-essential appliances if you do not have a surge protector.