Met Office issue rare AMBER warning for thunderstorms: Is your area affected?

THE MET OFFICE has issued a rare amber weather warning for thunderstorms as hot weather triggers unprecedented lightning and torrential rain. Is your area affected?

BBC Weather: ‘Flash flooding’ and ‘gusty winds’ set for Europe

Lightning storms and thunderstorms have been hitting the UK after more than a week of temperatures in the 30Cs. Now the has issued an Amber weather warning, with thunderstorms likely to have a significant impact on the warning area.

The Met Office warning, which came into effect at 11am last night and is in effect until 9am this morning, warns thundery showers are likely to gradually move northwards with continuing areas of torrential rain, frequent lightning and hail as well as perhaps gusty winds.

Where the storms become heaviest and most prolonged rainfall totals of 30 to 40 mm could fall in an hour with some places potentially receiving 60 to 80 mm in three to six hours.

Although only a few sites will see these totals with perhaps parts of Fife seeing these early in the night and the far northeast on Wednesday morning.

The area of thunderstorms is likely to bring some flooding and disruption to power supplies overnight into Wednesday.

Read More: How to keep cool at night - SEVEN heatwave sleep tips

Met Office warning: thunderstorm warning map

Met Office warning: The Met Office has issued a rare amber weather warning for thunderstorms (Image: GETTY/ MET OFFICE)

Met Office warning: Hot weather map

Met Office warning: There has been more than a week of temperatures in the 30Cs (Image: WXCHARTS)

Is your area affected?

Amber weather warnings are in place for Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian and SW Scotland and Lothian Borders.

The warnings are in effect from 11.59pm on Tuesday until 9am on Wednesday.

Flooding of homes and businesses is possible and could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes and large, hail

Met Office warning: Lightning pictures

Met Office warning: Lightning storms have already struck across the UK (Image: PA)

Met Office warning: Amber storm warning

Met Office warning: Amber weather warnings are in place for Central, Tayside and Fife, Grampian and SW Scotland and Lothian Borders (Image: MET OFFICE )

Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to public transport.

Spray and sudden flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and perhaps some road closures.

Fast flowing or deep floodwater is also possible causing danger to life.

Power cuts may occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.

DON'T MISS
Swollen ankles and feet: Why do ankles swell in hot weather? [EXPLAINED]
UK weather warning: New severe lightning alert issued - maps [INSIGHT]
Lightning tracker map: THOUSANDS of lightning strikes hit UK [MAP]

The persistent hot weather has made conditions perfect for thunderstorms developing.

According to the Met Office, the hot weather is due to continue for at least the next couple of days.

Heatwave conditions will be felt in eastern and southern parts of the UK until at least Thursday.

Thunderstorm warnings are in place for much of the UK for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Met Office warning: Hot weather map

Met Office warning: The hot weather is forecast to continue this week (Image: WXCHARTS)

The torrential rain could lead to flooding, with warnings in place from the Environment Agency.

Caroline Douglass, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Heavy thunderstorms across the Midlands and the north-west of England could lead to surface water and river flooding in some communities with possible disruption to travel and flooding of individual properties this afternoon and into early Tuesday morning.

"Isolated flooding is also possible more widely across England today through until Thursday due to further heavy thunderstorms.

“Our teams are ready to respond where needed and we urge people to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation online, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency on Twitter for the latest flood updates.”

Currently five flood alerts are in place, warning flooding is possible - be prepared.

  • River Blythe in Warwickshire
  • River Cole
  • River Rea
  • River Stour and Smestow Brook in the Black Country and South Staffordshire
  • Upper Tame
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?