Downpours to continue for UK with risk of flash flooding
The prolonged dry spell has come to an end with heavy, thundery showers continuing to sweep across the UK, as Ben Rich explains.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms will continue across the UK on Thursday, prompting a yellow thunderstorm warning in northern England and north Wales until 10:00 BST. The downpours will eventually move south and east, impacting other regions including Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia, and southern England. Motorists are warned of slippery conditions and the risk of flooded roads as the weather returns after a dry summer.
Temperatures are forecast to drop, with some areas remaining below the August average. During Thursday morning, northern England and north Wales will experience the heaviest rainfall, with 15-20mm of rain expected in an hour and 30-50mm in six hours. Flash flooding is possible, especially in areas with hard ground after a prolonged dry spell.
Lightning and hail pose additional hazards. Showers are expected to ease in the north, moving south and continuing to bring heavy, thundery downpours to other parts of the country. Road safety experts advise drivers to reduce speed and maintain greater distance from other vehicles due to the potential for greasy roads from oil, fuel, and rubber deposits.
Despite the return of rain, the drought gripping much of the UK will not immediately end and sustained rainfall is needed to replenish water supplies. Aultbea in the Scottish Highlands has recorded unusually high rainfall this summer, more than one and a half times the seasonal average. As northerly winds develop, temperatures are expected to drop, with highs of 13-23C on Thursday. This will be the first day since 29 June that temperatures fail to reach 25C anywhere in the UK.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
