UK weather: Met Office warning extended after UK hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain
The yellow weather warnings in place cover London, most of southern England, as well as Cardiff and areas of South Wales.
Thursday 2 May 2024 07:28, UK
Large parts of southern England, as well as parts of South Wales, have been hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight - and the Met Office has extended one of the two warnings it had in place.
The first yellow weather alert came into force at 8pm on Wednesday and covered an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales.
The Met Office warned of difficult driving conditions and some flooding under its alert, which is in place until 8am this morning.
The second warning kicked in at 11pm last night and covered nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London.
It was meant to be in force until 6am this morning, but has now been extended until 10am.
"Thunderstorms are expected through the morning, before gradually clearing from the east. Some travel disruption and flooding possible," said the Met Office.
Around 2cm to 4cm of rain was forecast to fall overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: "You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.
"A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well."
He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.
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Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.
Mr Deakin said: "A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.
"That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales."
He added: "Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow."