Thunderstorms and ’40-50 mm of rain’ to batter England for 12 hours

The Met Office has warned that thunderstorms – with the possibility of 40-50 mm of rainfall – are set to hit parts of England.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for 12 hours, from 10am until 10pm, today.

The Met Office said flooding of a few homes and businesses is ‘likely’ across the areas of London, Bath, Oxford, Portsmouth, Brighton and Norwich.

There is also a ‘good chance’ that driving conditions will be affected by standing water or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.

Delays to train services are also on the cards, while some short term loss of power and other services is likely.

The weather service said: ‘Showers and thunderstorms will spread from the southwest, as well as developing over land, during the morning, lasting through the afternoon and well into the evening.

‘Whilst some areas will miss these, where they develop 20-30 mm of rain within 2-3 hours, with a small chance that a few places could receive 40-50 mm over a longer period – especially across the southeast of the area this evening.

‘Hail and lightning will be additional hazards, with a risk of temporary hail accumulations in places.

‘In addition, heavy showers and thunderstorms will be associated with strong and gusty winds in the south of the warning area at times with 40 mph gusts possible.’

No warnings have been issued about the weather tomorrow, and further heavy showers and thunderstorms are not expected across England.

One flood warning has also been issued for B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road to the south of the River Nene.

The Environment Agency said river levels in the Peterborough area remain high.

The Whittlesey Wash flood storage reservoir is currently being operated to save the nearby communities from flooding.

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