The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for Friday, June 26, covering 75 areas across the UK. The alert is in effect from midnight until 10am, with forecasters warning of 60mph winds and a risk of flooding.
Warning details and timing
The yellow alert covers regions including the East Midlands, London and the South East, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Wales. Thunderstorms are expected to move northeastwards during the early hours, bringing heavy rain at a rate of 2mm per hour, along with strong winds.
The Met Office warned: "There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost." It added that lightning strikes or flooding could cause delays and cancellations to train and bus services, and that there is a small chance of rapid flooding of homes and businesses, with potential damage from floodwater, lightning, hail, or strong winds.
Impact on travel and daily life
Drivers are advised to be cautious, as spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. The weather agency is urging people to prepare by stocking up on batteries and torches, and putting together an emergency flood kit ahead of the severe weather, according to the Express.
Thunderstorms can increase the risk of flash floods and power cuts, and residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and warnings.
Full list of affected areas
East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.
London & South East England: Hampshire, Oxfordshire.
North East England: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland.
North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington.
South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole, Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire.
Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham.
West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire.
Yorkshire & Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York.
