Weather U-Turn Sparks Panic: UK Storm Alert Issued
Brits enjoying the early May sunshine might want to dig out the brolly again as the Met Office has put out a yellow thunderstorm warning for Monday. After a glorious start to the month with record-breaking heat, things are about to get messy — and fast.
The warning covers much of the South West, most of Wales, and stretches right across to Kent and as far north as Stoke-on-Trent. From midday until 10 pm on Monday, there’s a real chance of some heavy-duty storms, with forecasters saying up to 30mm of rain could fall in under an hour. That’s enough to cause flash flooding, bring traffic to a standstill, and even knock out power in some places.
Residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to get a flood plan in place and think about what they’d need in an emergency kit. It’s shaping up to be a proper rollercoaster start to the week.
Dan Harris, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said the weather will start turning from Saturday night into Sunday, as rain, showers, and even a few rogue thunderstorms begin creeping northwards across the southwest. That pattern is expected to spread through western parts of the country and into Northern Ireland.
By Monday, things could really kick off. Harris warned of the potential for “particularly vigorous thunderstorms” in Wales and southern England. If they hit hard, they could dump between 25 and 35mm of rain in just an hour. That much water in such a short space of time means surface flooding is a strong possibility. He also flagged hail, lightning, and bursts of strong wind as extra threats.
And there’s more uncertainty in the mix, too. “Forecasting exactly where thunderstorms will form at this range is fraught with uncertainty,” Harris said, adding that people should keep an eye on the latest updates and be ready to change plans if the weather takes a turn.
The Met Office echoed that message, saying that while the showers and storms expected on Monday will move quickly, they could pack a punch. In some areas, up to 50mm of rain could fall in just a couple of hours if a storm builds up. They also highlighted the risk of lightning, hail, and gusty winds, but did say things should calm down later in the evening.
It’s a sharp contrast from the start of May, which saw the UK basking in the hottest 1 May on record. Temperatures reached a sizzling 29.3C, almost 2C higher than the previous record, making it the hottest day of the year so far.
Looks like the great British weather is back to its unpredictable best. Have you got your umbrella ready?
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