Met Office issues urgent thunderstorm warning for today - six key areas affected

01 September 2023 , 11:48

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Met Office issues urgent thunderstorm warning for today - six key areas affected

The Met Office has issued an urgent weather warning for thunder and lightening today.

Forecasters said the harsh conditions will batter parts of the UK before Brits can expect to bask in 24C sunshine on the weekend.

The Met Office has announced parts of East of England could be affected including Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock. Areas in London and South East England such as Kent and Medway have also been listed.

The forecaster told Brits to consider the weather alert when making travel plans due to expected disruption including delays to train services. Heavy showers and thunderstorms could impact driving conditions due to standing water or hail. The alert was issued from 1pm until 7pm today.

Met Office issued the alert until 7pm on Friday

It comes after a flood warning was issued for around 15 parts of the UK including in Essex, Devon, Morecambe and Norfolk. Gov UK earlier reported that 50 locations have been listed as high possibility of risk. Residents based on the Cumbrian coastline, the north Cornwall coast, the North Sea coast, Poole Harbour, the south Cornwall coast and Somerset coast were also warned.

Met Office says UK will be battered by monster rain storm with 4 inches falling

Forecasters warned some "sharp showers are also possible, mainly across England and Wales" while temperatures will be mostly mild in parts of Scotland. It was further reported that Scotland and northeast England will experience sunny spells.

Brits have been told to prepare for thunderstorms on Friday (PA)

The wet conditions aren't expected to last as temperatures have been predicted to be higher than Faro, Portugal this weekend. However, similarly to the UK, Portugal is also expected to be hit by thunderstorms whilst holding temperatures of 23C. The UK's sudden warm spell should remain throughout next week.

Meteorologist Alex Deakin previously said: "Drier, sunnier, warmer weather is on the way for the weekend, but the charts initially don't look too promising. We've got low pressure sitting across the UK and another one up towards the northwest.

"Quite an intense warm this, it's heading its way up towards Greenland. And actually that one is allowing high pressure to topple in further south and oust the low that's sitting across us at the moment. And this high will bring many of us a fine weekend and probably into the early part of next week as well."

Monica Charsley