Yellow thunderstorm warning with heavy rain & floods sparking …

YELLOW weather alerts are in place for parts of the UK today – with the Met Office warning of heavy showers and thunderstorms.

The downpours are expected to wreak travel chaos[1] across bus, rail and road networks.

Londoners get a drenching at London Bridge as the rain closes in on the capital

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Londoners get a drenching at London Bridge as the rain closes in on the capitalCredit: George Cracknell Wright
The River Great Ouse burst its banks in Cambridgeshire today leaving the fields around Earith underwater

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The River Great Ouse burst its banks in Cambridgeshire today leaving the fields around Earith underwaterCredit: Bav Media

The warnings – in place until 7pm on Thursday – stretch from London up to Carlisle, Cumbria and into Scotland.

The Met Office say there is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water[2] and even hail.

In the weather alert, the Met warns: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to cause travel disruption and flooding.

“There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus[3].

“Perhaps damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes.

“Some short term loss of power and other services is likely.”

The heaviest rain[4] is expected to fall in the North West of England and London areas today.

The River Great Ouse burst its banks in Cambridgeshire today leaving fields around Earith underwater.

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Meanwhile, Londoners got a drenching at London Bridge as the rain closed in on the capital on Thursday morning.

This afternoon will continue to be unsettled with a mix of sunny spells, cloud and scattered showers which may turn thundery at times.

The Met Office said up to 20mm of rainfall could fall every hour, with up to 50mm falling in just three hours.

Thursday will see highs of 17C in London, 16C in Cardiff, 15C in Newcastle, 15C in Belfast and 14C in Plymouth.

But the rain is not forecast to last all day and this evening it is expected to gradually dissipate allowing for late sunny spells for many.

Tonight, it will remain dry but there will be large areas of low cloud that will spread in from the east.

Friday will be largely overcast for many but outbreaks of rain are expected to drench much of East Anglia and London from mid-morning.

This rain will push west throughout the afternoon bringing breezier and cooler weather.

Friday will see highs of 16C in Manchester, 16C in Belfast and 12C in London.

Yellow warnings stretch from London up to to Carlisle, Cumbria and into Scotland

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Yellow warnings stretch from London up to to Carlisle, Cumbria and into ScotlandCredit: Metoffice
A Met Office update this afternoon forecast heavy showers for most of the UK from 4pm

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A Met Office update this afternoon forecast heavy showers for most of the UK from 4pmCredit: Met Office
The weather from this morning showed rain rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean

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The weather from this morning showed rain rolling in from the Atlantic OceanCredit: Met Office
Two women scarper along the banks of the Thames as torrential rainfall batters the capital

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Two women scarper along the banks of the Thames as torrential rainfall batters the capitalCredit: George Cracknell Wright
A man opts for a box to shelter from the storm in London

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A man opts for a box to shelter from the storm in LondonCredit: George Cracknell Wright

References

  1. ^ wreak travel chaos (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  2. ^ affected by spray, standing water (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  3. ^ leading to longer journey times by car and bus (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  4. ^ heaviest rain (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)