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Met Office issues 7 storm warnings amid ‘extremely high’ temperatures

Brits are set to be battered by thunderstorms and heavy rain today with the Met Office[1] issuing seven yellow weather[2] warnings across the UK.

As the rest of Europe endures an extreme heatwave with recorded temperatures as high as 48C, the UK is going through a period of unsettled weather.

It comes as a landslip has blocked a major railway line in south Wales caused by heavy rain and strong winds. Transport for Wales announced that all trains between Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon would be affected due to the incident near Troedyrhiw.

A thunderstorm warning[3] has been issued for Saturday until 11pm which covers the whole of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland while there are also alerts in place for strong winds and heavy rain.

The Met Office states: “Thunderstorms and heavy showers bringing some disruption.”

It adds: “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. Delays to train services are possible.




EasyJet slashes holiday prices for last minute trips to Turkey, Greece & more[4]
Weather warnings from the Met Office
Weather warnings from the Met Office (
Met Office)

“Some flooding of a few homes and businesses possible, leading to some damage to buildings or structures. Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes.”

There is also a warning for powerful winds across the south of England.

“An unseasonably windy day is likely on Saturday,” said the Met Office, with the “possibility of damage caused to buildings.”

“Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely,” it said.

“Some short term loss of power and other services is possible. It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves.

Thunderstorms will affect northern England and Scotland
Thunderstorms will affect northern England and Scotland (
PA)

“Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges likely. Some damage to trees or temporary structures such as marquees, tents & inflatables, could occur.”

The warning of high winds have meant that the Goodwood Festival of Speed has been cancelled for the “first time in its 30 year history” said organisers, due to the risk to the public.

Of the heavy showers and thunderstorms across parts of Scotland and northern England, the Met Office added that lightning and hail is likely in places, with up to 20mm of rainfall in one hour possible, and a few places seeing 30mm within 2-3 hours.

“The heaviest showers and thunderstorms will ease from most areas through the evening, but they could linger in parts of northwest Scotland and also over the far south of Scotland and far north of England”, it added.

Meanwhile in southern Europe the “Cerberus” heatwave, named by the Italian Meteorological Society after the three-headed monster from Dante’s Inferno, has taken hold across holiday hotspots in the Mediterranean, with recorded temperatures as high as 48C.

It is going to be a day of high winds in the south of England
It is going to be a day of high winds in the south of England (
PA)

For sun lovers it has been a disappointing start to July with plenty of rain and below average temperatures, that come on the back of the hottest June on record.

But researchers believe that this is only a lull and are warning future hot weather spikes could cause our buildings to “act like greenhouses” and that the country faces extreme temperatures if global warming reaches 2C.

A study conducted at the University of Oxford found, of countries with more than five million inhabitants in 2020, Switzerland and the UK would see their relative demand for people needing to cool down rise by 30%, as they would face a greater number of days with extremely high temperatures.

Dr Radhika Khosla, associate professor and leader of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Cooling, said: “It has huge implications for public health and all sustainable development goals, including livelihoods, infrastructure, education, poverty and food and nutrition.”

References

  1. ^ Met Office (www.mirror.co.uk)
  2. ^ weather (www.mirror.co.uk)
  3. ^ warning (www.mirror.co.uk)
  4. ^ EasyJet slashes holiday prices for last minute trips to Turkey, Greece & more (www.mirror.co.uk)

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