UK weather forecast: Gales and thunderstorms on way this weekend, warns Met Office

Yellow warning in place across UK for rain, wind and potential flooding

Thunderstorms and torrential downpours are set to sweep the UK by the weekend, while strong winds could bring power cuts and transport delays, the Met Office has warned.

A yellow warning is in place for almost the whole of the UK - except for a thin slither of northwest Scotland and southeast England on Friday.

The Met Office said a "band of heavy rain followed by heavy showers or thunderstorms has the potential to bring disruption" at the end of the working week.

"There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life," the warning added.

By Saturday, the risk of thunderstorms becomes more pronounced across northern England and central and southern parts of Scotland, while the warning of high winds remains in place across the rest of England and Wales.

More heavy rain could spell misery for some parts of the UK already struggling with flooding after torrential rain in recent days.

The main rail line from Edinburgh to Glasgow was closed on Wednesday after a tunnel became inundated with water.

Tracks on the West Highland Line which were damaged after flooding (PA)

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were also called out to incidents in the east of the country on Wednesday with homes evacuated near the Firth of Forth.

Houghton Festival became the second music event to be cancelled in the space of two days because of the extreme weather.

Following warnings of 60mph winds, thunderstorms and heavy rains in Norfolk, the dance music festival’s third gathering was called off just hours before it was due to begin. It followed the cancellation of the Boardmasters gathering in Cornwall.

However residents of a Derbyshire town evacuated after heavy rain last week prompted fears a local reservoir would collapse were told they could finally return home.

The 55 households in Whaley Bridge were given the green light after water levels dropped enough at nearby Toddbrook Reservoir.

The Met Office said heavy rain will continue moving northeastwards across Scotland by Friday.

Elsewhere, forecasters said the country would see a mix of sunshine and heavy blustery showers with hail and thunder. It will be windy, with coastal gales in southwest England later.

For the weekend, heavy thundery showers are forecast on Saturday and it will be unseasonably windy over England and Wales with gales for some.