The Met Office has identified 75 areas across the UK that will experience heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday, issuing a yellow weather warning valid from midnight on Thursday 25 June until 10am on Friday. The warning covers large parts of England and Wales, with potential hazards including sudden gusty winds of 50 to 60 mph, frequent lightning, hail, and heavy rainfall of 15-20 mm in an hour.
Forecast Details and Risks
According to the Met Office, thunderstorms are expected to move northeastwards across parts of England and Wales during the early hours of Friday, clearing by mid-morning. While many areas will miss the storms, those affected could face power cuts to homes and businesses, as well as delays and cancellations to train and bus services. The forecaster warned that flooding could occur quickly, damaging buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail, or strong winds. Spray and sudden flooding may lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures.
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
Context and Previous Warnings
The warning comes as the UK endures a heatwave, with temperatures reaching 40°C in some areas and a red heat alert issued for the third consecutive day. The Met Office warned of high humidity leading to discomfort and health impacts. The sudden shift to thunderstorms follows a period of extreme heat, with the forecaster advising residents to stay updated on weather alerts and take precautions against potential disruption.
