Thunderstorm alert issued as lightning prepares to strike during UK heat wave

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for thunderstorms across large areas of the UK.

Most of southern England, the Midlands and parts of the north are covered by the yellow alert, which comes into effect at 12:00 on Thursday and ends at 11:59 p.m.

The Met Office said: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected on Thursday and could lead to some disruption.”

It comes after the UK’s Health Safety Agency issued health warnings across most of England this week.

The UK could experience a heatwave this week ahead of the storms, with temperatures expected to reach 32C on Tuesday in the south-east.

Much of the UK will experience very warm weather with increasingly wetter conditions.

A heatwave threshold in the UK is only reached when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office. This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and surrounding areas, where temperatures are usually higher.

Thursday’s weather warning is expected to bring heavy showers and thunderstorms across the country which “may lead to some disruption”, the Met Office added.

Driving conditions are set to be difficult as flash flooding and subsequent road closures are forecast.

Public transport delays are expected, especially if there is lightning, and there is the possibility of power outages affecting homes and businesses.

The Met Office said there was a small risk of fast-flowing or deep flooding that would be “a danger to life”, with homes at risk of damage from the elements.

The exact locations that will be affected are still uncertain, and while some areas will remain dry throughout the day, others could experience torrential rain “with additional hazards of lightning, hail and gusty winds”.

The forecaster advises people to prepare to protect property and people from injury, check conditions before traveling and seek shelter if caught in thunderstorms, avoiding trees if struck by lightning.