Going out with a bang! Thunderstorms sweep in as Met Office issues new weather warnings and predict a month’s worth of rain to fall in the next 12 hours – but heatwave looks set to continue with 32C temperatures making it hotter than Monaco
- Saturday was hottest day of the year with highs of a whopping 32.3C in Surrey
- But new weather warnings predict a month’s worth of rain could fall in 12 hours
Almost a month’s worth of rain could fall over parts of the UK in the next 12 hours – but the country will still be hotter than Monaco.
New weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain on Sunday and Monday.
Temperatures have already hit 30C in West Suffolk on Sunday but could reach 32C, which would be hotter than Monaco, the forecaster said.
Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey and the hot temperatures are set to continue.
But the yellow warnings mean thunderstorms and rain could result in flood and difficult driving conditions, the Met Office says.
MANCHESTER: Rainy scenes as storms hit Manchester City Centre outside The Arndale
DORSET: A couple sitting on the beach shelter under umbrellas as rain falls on a hot and humid afternoon at the seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset
MANCHESTER: People covered in bin bags as they try to shield from the rain
MANCHESTER: Festival goers endure a thunderstorm at Parklife Festival 2023 at Heaton Park on June 11, 2023
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: ‘We’ve got ourselves a yellow rain warning covering that area, and 10 to 20mm of rain is quite likely in a large area, some could see 40 to 60mm in three to six hours, some places in the West Country could see nearly a month’s worth of rain in the next 12 hours.
‘Some spots could see 30 to 40mm within an hour, so an intense downpour of rain. Some spots could see in excess of 60mm in a very short period – there’s likely to be some hazards from localised flooding and surface water issues.’
This weekend’s heatwave has seen the highest temperatures of the year so far.
Mr Stroud said: ‘It will widely be 24C to 28C on Monday, with some spots sitting at the 30C to 32C mark. It will be warmer than Monaco, where it has hit 24.7C on Sunday and is expected to be 22 to 24C on Monday.’
But the sustained heat is likely to trigger downpours.
‘We’re expecting Sunday to be another hot day across much of the country,’ Mr Stroud added. ‘We’ve also got a yellow thunderstorm warning; the high temperatures today are likely to trigger a few thunderstorms during the course of the afternoon and evening until 9pm.
LONDON: People enjoy the weather in St James’s Park, London today during the weekend heatwave
The yellow warnings (pictured are for Monday) mean thunderstorms and rain could result in flood and difficult driving conditions, the Met Office says
LONDON: People prepare to swim at Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock swimming area during a heatwave
LONDON: Spectators shield themselves from the rain which stopped play in the Men’s Singles Final match between Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Austria’s Jurij Rodionov on day seven of the 2023 Lexus Surbiton Trophy at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, London
New weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for thunderstorms and rain on Sunday (pictured) and Monday
LONDON: Swimmer jump in the water at Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock swimming area during a heatwave
MANCHESTER: People sheild from the rain in Manchester after a weekend heatwave sparks thunderstorms
LONDON: People shade themselves from the sun under a tree in Richmond Park, London
DORSET: A person makes their way through the rain along Boscombe Pier in Dorset
MANCHESTER: Parklife Festival is halted for over an hour as wet weather thunder and lightning puts halt to the music but music goes were still in good spirits as taking shelter from the rain
MANCHESTER: Festival goers endure a thunderstorm at Parklife Festival 2023 at Heaton Park
BOURNEMOUTH: Beachgoers at an overcast Bournemouth beach in Dorset. The Met Office has issued guidance that most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria next week
‘On Monday, we’re expecting a fine and hot start, temperatures rising fairly quickly during the course of the morning under strong early summer sunshine and that’s likely to spark a few thundery showers.’
A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place until 9pm on Sunday covering most of England, Wales and Scotland.
And a yellow warning for rain has been released covering southern parts of England and Wales from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday.
Four yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place from 12pm to 9pm on Monday and cover parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
The North saw heavy rain and even hail last night and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms.
Yet although the experts predicted up to 100mm of rain last night, the most was only 21.8mm in Merseyside.
WORCESTER: Vehicles are driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester after an afternoon of thunderstorms
SOUTHEND: Crowds of people gathered to enjoy the warm sunny weather on Jubilee beach
MANCHESTER: Parklife Festival is halted for over an hour as wet weather thunder and lightning puts halt to the music
THREE SHIRES HEAD: People enjoy the hot weather by Three Shires Head on the River Dane, where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet
LONDON: People shade themselves from the sun under a tree in Richmond Park, London
BRIGHTON: Crowds on Brighton beach in East Sussex as temperatures rise across the south east
WORCESTER: A car is driven through flash flooding in the Lower Wick area of Worcester after an afternoon of thunderstorms on Saturday
WORCESTER: The North saw heavy rain and even hail and the Met Office issued an amber warning for thunderstorms
NORTH TYNESIDE: Natalie Ord, 40, and Sunny Regan, three, enjoy a day at Cullercoats beach in North Tyneside
Amy Bokota, senior operational meteorologist, said the lower recording could have been due to where the gauges fell, and said areas in the North West would still have seen torrential rain and hail, while in other areas not too far away there were mostly clear skies.
The Met Office said there was a chance homes and businesses could be flooded quickly on Sunday.
Floodwater, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds could also been seen, with difficult driving conditions expected and a slight chance of power cuts,
It predicted delays and even cancellations to public transport because of floods or power cuts.
In Worcestershire a road was closed last night after a tree fell onto a power line following heavy rain.
Police officers urged residents to avoid the area for their own safety.
The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday.
Sales of fans have tripled over the last week and the Met Office said next week most of the UK will meet heatwave criteria.
Toolstation said it has sold 213 per cent more fans over the last week compared to the week before, while water can sales were more than double, at 147 per cent.
Wilko said thousands of its fans had been flying off the shelves too, with sales up 90 per cent.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber alert for hot weather until 9am on Tuesday in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, East of England and South West.
The alert suggests the heat is ‘likely to be felt across the whole health service… and the wider population, not just the most vulnerable’.
A less concerning yellow alert has been issued for the North East, North West and in Yorkshire and Humber, as well as London.
THREE SHIRES HEAD: A man cools down in a waterfall at Three Shires Head during Britain’s heatwave
EAST SUSSEX: Sun-seeking Brits enjoyed the weather yesterday in Seaford. Saturday was the hottest day of the year with highs of 32.3C in Surrey
RICHMOND PARK, LONDON: The toasty temperatures are expected to continue next week but get back to normal by Tuesday
Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long.
Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland on Saturday warned people nearby to stay indoors and close all windows and doors to prevent smoke inhalation.
On social media, people in Inverness reported being able to smell smoke during the night.
Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an ‘almighty challenge’ on Saturday night.
He tweeted: ‘The wildfire at Daviot south of Inverness stretches over a mile long between Craggie and Moy and presents an almighty challenge for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to try and contain as the wind blows the flames further across the landscape.’
SCOTLAND: Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire near Inverness that has burned throughout the night and reportedly covers an area a mile long
SCOTLAND: Duncan Macpherson, a Highland councillor for Inverness South, said firefighters were facing an ‘almighty challenge’ on Saturday night
SCOTLAND: Six fire engines remain near the village of Daviot in the Highlands after the fire broke out on Saturday afternoon
Images posted by Neil Wallace on social media show large plumes of grey smoke in the sky above Meallmore Hill, near Daviot.
The fire started close to a caravan park at about 2.45pm on Saturday during what was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland.
A temperature of 26.7C was recorded in Auchincruive in South Ayrshire and 23C in Inverness.
Meanwhile, the fire service has extended a ‘very high’ wildfire warning which was in place until Saturday through to Monday.
The Daviot fire follows one near Cannich in the Highlands, which began on May 28 and is believed to be one of the largest in the UK.
Firefighters said the total area covered by that fire was about 30 square miles. Another wildfire started on the Campsie Fells to the north of Glasgow.
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