Warnings of MEGASTORM with Britain set to be lashed with six weeks’ worth of rain in just 12 hours

By Freya Barnes[1]

Published: 02:04, 22 September 2024 | Updated: 02:07, 22 September 2024

Warnings have been issued as a megastorm will strike Britain today with six weeks' worth of rain set to lash down in just 12 hours.

The 200-mile-wide storm will see large areas of the country battered by rain for the whole day.

45 flood warnings and alerts have been issued and up to three inches of rain could fall in some areas, according to weathermen.

The Met Office[2] said: 'Showers and thunderstorms are expected to merge into broader areas of heavy rain across parts of Wales, central and southern England during Sunday.'

The Environment Agency said: 'Local flooding is possible from surface water and rivers.'

Flooding in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire after a thunderstorm in the area on Friday

A flooded car park in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire after a thunderstorm in the area on Friday

Nick Finnis from Netweather said: 'All good things come to an end.

After a summery run across the UK, it's turning a lot wetter.'

Thunder and lightning, hail and rain struck various parts of the country on Saturday, including Luton, Bedfordshire, St Albans in Hertfordshire, and Cornwall, with heavy downpours in London, Wales and Birmingham.

More than 900 homes lost power across North Staffordshire yesterday as thundery conditions moved in.

As the afternoon wore on skies turned grey across many places with thunder heard and lightning spotted in the skies.

The autumn equinox takes place on Sunday, which marks the end of summer and the start of autumn.

A weather warning for rain has come into force lasting all of Sunday for Wales and central south-west England, and another on Monday, stretching to cover areas further east and further north.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey said: 'With Sunday marking the autumnal equinox summer has now officially come to an end, and it ended with a bang for some of us.

'We've seen some very heavy showers and thunderstorms spreading their way in across southern areas of England, into parts of Wales as well during the course of today.

Traffic on the M3 motorway near Basingstoke during wet weather on Friday

People sit on the flooded courtyard of the White Cross Pub on the River Thames at high tide in Richmond, London on September 20

Thunder and lightning, hail and rain struck various parts of the country on Saturday, including Luton, Bedfordshire, St Albans in Hertfordshire, and Cornwall, with heavy downpours in London, Wales and Birmingham

'This evening, those will continue to rumble their way on a bit, spreading again into parts of Midlands, Wales, then maybe just clipping the far south of Northern Ireland as well.

'Into the early hours of tomorrow morning we'll also see our next batch of thundery rain moving its way into southern areas of England as well.'

He continued: 'We do then have a rain warning in force throughout Sunday for this band of rain that's going to be moving across Wales, central southern areas of England.

'Some very heavy pulses are possible with some surface water issues, travel disruption, so it is worth taking care if you are out and about or travelling during the day.'

References

1. ^ Freya Barnes (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)