UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warning as heavy rain to lash southern England

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning as a thunderstorm is set to hit southern England.

According to the Met there is a chance that thunderstorms may cause some flooding and disruption on Sunday night largely across parts of southwestern England.

Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services, the Met Office said, adding spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures with a slight chance that power cuts to homes, services and businesses.

“Although the locations affected by thunderstorms remains uncertain, a few places may experience a combination of heavy rain, frequent lightning and hail during Sunday night,” the Met Office said in a statement.

“Should thunderstorms develop, they are likely to move north from the south coast during Sunday evening into parts of south Wales, southern England and East Anglia overnight before gradually weakening during Monday morning. Whilst some places will remain dry, a few places may see 20-30 mm of rain fall in less than an hour, with frequent lightning and hail additional hazards.”

The weather warnings come as temperatures across the UK reached highs of 23.5C on Saturday while Britons are braced for more warm weather in what could be the hottest day of the year Sunday with highs of 25C.

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