UK weather live: Tornado alert issued as heavy rain and thunderstorms strike amid Met Office warnings
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation has forecast much of the south-east to see lightning and winds up to 50mph
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Warnings of flooding and even brief tornadoes have been issued for parts of the UK as heavy rain begins to lash down on many regions of the country.
The Met Office a more severe amber alert is also active for a central region of England - including Birmingham, Worcester, Leicester and Peterborough - with rain likely to cause flooding and disruption this evening and Friday morning.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation has also forecast much of the south-east will see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”. This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.
More than 50 flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 200 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
It follows heavy rain and flash flooding in some parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday. In Northamptonshire, a holiday park was evacuated due to flooding on Tuesday night.
Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “We are expecting an area of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon and evening across parts of the Midlands. The rain will fall onto already saturated ground, potentially affecting communities still recovering from recent flooding.”
What to expect in areas facing yellow and amber warning
As many parts of the country face a blustery and wet night with the chance of disruptions, the Met Office has issued a list of what people should expect under each of the warnings.
For a yellow weather warning:
- There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services
- Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads
- There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life
For a amber weather warning:
- Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- A good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads
- Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely
- Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely
Weather warnings across UK
Here’s the latest map showing the weather warnings in place for rain tonight.
A yellow weather warning for eastern Northern Ireland will end at 6pm, for the north-east at midnight and for the Midlands and the south at 9am.
A more severe amber alert is in place for a central region, and is expected to end at 6pm. The warning states: “Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding and transport disruption this evening and overnight.”
Tornado alert issued
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is forecasting much of the south-east to see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”.
This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.
It comes after the Met Office issued an amber warning earlier on Thursday for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, set to come into force at 6pm on Thursday and last for 12 hours.
Looking further ahead
Following Friday, the Met Office says the rain will clear and the country will experience colder conditions.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said: “The rain will clear south during Friday allowing Arctic air to cross the country.
“This gives a much colder but quieter interlude in the south on Saturday, although a few showers will spread across northern areas. An area of low pressure then moves in from the southwest later in the weekend and crosses the UK during Sunday and Monday.”
Measures of rainfall over next 24 hours
The Met Office has produced a tidy visualisation that shows the amount of rainfall predicted over the next 24 hours.
The north east and central England, where there is an amber alert for rain, face the highest levels.
Amber warning in place until 9am on Friday
Areas affected by the amber warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the Met Office.
According to the warning, the weather could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and there is a “good chance” some communities will be cut off due to floods.
Delays and cancellations to train and bus services and power cuts are also likely.
How much rain are we expecting?
The Met Office says some places, especially across the central and eastern parts of the amber warning area, will see 30 to 40 mm of rainfall in up to three hours.
This could increase to 50 to 60 mm overnight in some areas.
‘Increased risk of impacts’
The Met Office has now provided some commentary on the recently issued amber warning, explaing what many parts of the UK should face this afternoon and evening.
As we’ve already said, many parts of the UK are covered by a yellow warning for rain, although a central region of England has seen its alert heightened to amber this morning.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “We are expecting an area of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon and evening across parts of the Midlands.
“The rain will fall onto already saturated ground, potentially affecting communities still recovering from recent flooding. An amber warning as been issued covering the areas of increased risk of impacts.
Flood warnings in place
Over the past 24 hours, 19 flood warnings have been removed by the Environment Agency, but there are still 27 in place, where flooding is expected.
The flood warnings, most of which are in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, are in place due to further rain expected on Thursday and Friday.
There are also 65 flood alerts in place, where flooding is possible.
Visualisation shows why amber warning is in place
The Met Office has issued a graphic showing how the band of rain will impact central England from tonight into Friday morning:
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