The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Thursday with parts of southern England possibly being drenched by as much as 60mm of rain in just two hours. The forecaster is also warning of frequent lightining and hail with a yellow weather warning in place for London and the south-east, the south-west and East of England.
The weather warning is set to run from 10am until 9pm, with the Met Office saying the thunderstorms and heavy rain may cause disruption. The forecaster warns of potential power cuts, delays on the roads and rail networks and a “small chance” that homes and busineses could be flooded quickly. The thunderstorms and downpours are expected to develop during Thursday morning and through the afternoon.
The Met Office says there could be torrential downpours in some areas, with up to 25-35mm of rain falling within an hour and potentially 60mm of rain within two hours.
The weather agency classes rain that falls at a rate of 4mm per hour or more as heavy.
Storms are expected to be more confined to the south and east of the weather warning areas later in the afternoon, before fading away during the evening.
The Met Office has issued guidance to the public ahead of the bad weather.
This includes reviewing whether your location is at risk of flash flooding, and if so, consider preparing a “flood plan and an emergency flood kit”.
People are also being encouraged to check moveable objects — such as bins, garden furniture and trampolines — and temporary structures are well secured ahead of gusty winds.
Those travelling are being encouraged to check the conditions before they set off.
The yellow weather warning has been described as “very low likelihood and a medium impact”.
According to the Met Office, the regions and local authorities covered by the weather warning are as follows:
East of EnglandCentral BedfordshireEssexHertfordshireLutonSouthend-on-SeaSuffolkThurrockLondon & South East EnglandBracknell ForestBrighton and HoveBuckinghamshireEast SussexGreater LondonHampshireIsle of WightKentMedwayOxfordshirePortsmouthReadingSloughSouthamptonSurreyWest BerkshireWest SussexWindsor and MaidenheadWokinghamSouth West EnglandBath and North East SomersetBournemouth Christchurch and PooleBristolDorsetGloucestershireNorth SomersetSomersetSouth GloucestershireSwindonWiltshire