Met Office Issues Thunderstorm Warnings Across East and South England

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms across the East of England, covering the region from the Norfolk coast to West Northamptonshire. The warning is in effect from 10:00 BST Tuesday until 03:00 BST Wednesday. The national weather service forecasts heavy showers during this period, cautioning that driving conditions may become difficult and some short-term power outages are “likely.”

A Met Office spokesperson stated, “Whilst some areas will miss these, where they develop 20mm (0.8in) and 30mm (1.2in) of rain [will fall] within two to three hours.” The spokesperson further warned of a “small chance” that certain locations could receive between 40mm (1.6in) and 50mm (2in) of rain over a prolonged duration, particularly in the southeast of the region.

Residents are advised to find safe, enclosed shelters if they hear thunder while outside, avoiding trees and other structures that might attract lightning. Property owners should assess the potential for flooding and prepare emergency flood kits. Transport services may also be affected, with the possibility of train delays and motorists encouraged to monitor road conditions and adjust their travel plans accordingly.

Additionally, flood alerts have been issued across England, with over 70 warnings in place on Tuesday evening. Seven locations had flood warnings, including two in Bristol. Other affected areas include Gog Brook in Warwick, Bunches Brook from Broadway to Childswickham in Worcestershire, and low-lying properties near the River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge in Somerset. A warning also applied to the B1040 Thorney to Whittlesey Road south of the River Nene near Peterborough.

In Northumberland, MP Ian Lavery reported “severe flooding” due to “extreme conditions,” affecting areas like Blyth and Ashington. Lavery’s office received numerous calls about the serious flooding that led to road closures near Blyth, with fire and rescue services on-site.

National Highways confirmed the temporary closure of the M5 in Somerset on Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rainfall-induced flooding. Meteorologist Liam Eslick noted, “We are looking to see quite a lot of rainfall with 20mm-30mm in two to three hours, but there could be some very heavy bursts with 40mm-50mm falling over a longer period of time.” Eslick added that residents could expect thunder, hail, and gusty conditions as the showers develop into larger systems moving north and east across southern Britain.