The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning across parts of the UK for Saturday and Sunday, with the forecast predicting heavy and thundery showers could bring on flooding across parts of the country. The Met Office says outbreaks of rain and some thunderstorms are expected to spread from the southwest on Friday night, which will introduce “unsettled conditions to much of England and Wales for Saturday and Sunday”. Heavy, thundery showers are expected on Sunday “when these could be widespread and locally torrential”.
The Met Office warning adds: “Lightning and hail are also expected.
“Rainfall amounts will vary from place to place, but there is potential for up to 100mm to build up in some locations over the course of the weekend, much of which could fall in a short period of time.”
The warning is focused on these regions:
East Midlands
East of England
London & South East England
North West England
South West England
Wales
West Midlands
Yorkshire & Humber
READ MORE: BBC Weather: Carol Kirkwood warns of flooding and thunderstorms
Will there be another heatwave in August?
According to early weather forecasts, the UK is facing a second heatwave this summer in August.
Confidence for the summer month remains low, but some forecasters predict Britain could be hit with another spell of hot weather in a few weeks’ time.
Meteorologists correctly predicted the July heatwave early, seeing temperatures reach 31.6C at Heathrow and 30.2C in Cardiff this Sunday, making it the hottest day of the year.
While the Met Office rarely employs the term heatwave, its medium to long-range forecast suggests August will bring even more heat.
This week the Met Office has issued two extreme heat warnings for the UK, one in Northern Ireland and another in the southwest of England.
The warning in the southwest will dissipate by tomorrow, while temperatures in Northern Ireland are expected to soar on Friday so the warning will remain in place.
The warning reads: “The current hot weather is expected to continue until later this week.
“High temperatures are expected both by day and by night, peaking Thursday before temperatures fall on Friday.”
Forecasts have signalled unusually high temperatures for western parts of the British Isles, as well as continuing high temperatures at night which could have adverse impacts on health.
The Met Office adds: “The impacts of extreme heat can be many and varied.
“It can have health consequences, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable and it can impact infrastructure, including transport and energy, as well as the wider business community.”
Met Office chief operational meteorologist Steve Ramsdale said: “The high temporaries are going to continue through a large part of this week.
“Many areas will continue to reach heatwave thresholds but the amber extreme heat warning focuses on western areas where the most unusually high temperatures are likely to persist.
“There’s a continuing risk of isolated thundery downpours late in the afternoon but for most areas will stay dry until later in the week.
“Temperatures should begin to fall for most areas heading into the weekend, with some more unsettled conditions looking to develop.”