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
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
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.”
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:
What should people expect in am amber warning?
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain for a central region of England. Here is what the agency says people should expect:
- 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
In pictures: Areas still flooded from rain earlier this week
In Northamptonshire, some low lying areas were badly impacted by the rain earlier this week.
At the Billing Aquadrome leisure park, residents had to be evacuated from their homes, while several main roads were also shut due to flooding.
Pictures today show how some areas are still impacted.
Amber weather warning issued by Met Office
The Met Office has just raised its warning for heavy rain for a central part of England from a yellow alert to amber.
This means that heavy rain is likely to cause flooding and transport disruption this evening and overnight.
The region has already suffered flooding following downpours earlier in the week, in particular, in low lying areas in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.
The south of England and Wales will be the worst affected areas today
With rain forecast across many regions of the UK today, a yellow weather warning is in place for the south of England and Wales, and will remain in place until Friday morning at 9am.
The Met Office says people in areas such as Birmingham, London, Bristol and Cardiff should expect heavy rain with the potential for flooding and disruption to transport.
There’s also a chance of thunderstorms.
The Met Office says: “Whilst some areas will miss the worst, heavy showers and some thunderstorms will occur during today, potentially becoming more organised across a swathe of Wales and into central and eastern England during Thursday evening and on into early Friday morning.”
Movement of bands of rain across the UK
As this graphic from the Met Office shows, the day begins with heavy showers in the north east before later in the day, from around 11am, bands of rain drift up through the south of the country where there is a yellow weather warning in place.
The picture for Thursday
Here we can see the Met Office’s yellow warnings for rain covering large parts of the country.
For Northern Ireland, the warning is until 12noon, for the north east it is until midnight and for the south it is until 9am on Friday.
For the south, the Met Office says people should be braced for heavy rain that could bring flooding and disruption to transport. It adds there is a small chance of floodwater causing danger to life.
Also in the south, the Met Office says there is a chance of some thunderstorms.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments