New thunderstorm warnings for UK as rain set to continue
The Met Office has issued fresh yellow thunderstorm warnings for much of England and Wales on Thursday, with heavy rain moving north after overnight downpours in southern England. Anyone checking BBC Weather London or regional apps should prepare for flash flooding, large hail, lightning and travel disruption through the bank holiday weekend.
New warnings were issued on Wednesday evening as storms drifted north across the UK. Southern England and south Wales saw a wet start to Thursday, while a wider alert covering all of Wales and large swathes of England runs until 22:00 BST.
Key Takeaways
- Two Met Office yellow thunderstorm warnings cover London, the South East, Wales and much of England on Thursday.
- Birmingham faced significant flooding on Wednesday evening, with six fire crews deployed to affected streets.
- Up to 75mm of rain, hailstones of 1-2cm and gusty winds could cause flash flooding and power cuts.
- Bank holiday events including Reading Festival and Notting Hill Carnival face mixed, wet and windy conditions.
- Forecast tools like the BBC Weather app remain the best way to track fast-moving storm cells.
Where are the thunderstorm warnings in force?
According to the BBC Weather forecast, one yellow warning covers southern England and the South East until 08:00 BST on Thursday. A second, wider warning spans all of Wales and most of England until 22:00.
Herstmonceux in East Sussex recorded 21.4mm of rain in six hours overnight. Downpours accompanied by lightning, hail and squally winds are moving north across Wales, the Midlands and eastern England, reaching northern England by early afternoon.
Within warning areas, 20-30mm could fall in a few hours, with up to 50mm over 12 hours. Hills exposed to easterly winds may see as much as 75mm. Northern Ireland and Scotland are likely to avoid the wettest weather.
What happened in Birmingham on Wednesday evening?
Before Thursday's warnings took full effect, Birmingham was already dealing with serious disruption. West Midlands Fire Service confirmed "significant flooding" around Curbar Road, Thornbridge Avenue and Haddon Road on Wednesday evening.
Six crews responded with support from West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council. A flood warning was also issued for the Perry Barr area amid rising river levels. Birmingham City Council urged residents to avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.
The Environment Agency had issued 22 flooding alerts across the Midlands and South East, meaning flooding was possible in those areas.
What risks does the Met Office warn about?
Officials warn of hazardous driving conditions, possible road closures and communities cut off by floodwater. Lightning strikes could cause power cuts, while hailstones measuring 1-2cm pose an additional hazard.
There is a small chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater, according to storm guidance echoed across England and Wales. Spray and sudden flooding may disrupt trains and buses.
While the rain may help drought-hit areas of England and Wales, experts say months of persistent wet weather would be needed to replenish water supplies. Hard, dry ground increases flash-flood risk where heavy rain falls quickly.
How will the weather affect the bank holiday weekend?
Spells of rain are set to continue through the bank holiday for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with brisk winds especially in the south. Reading and Leeds Festivals, Creamfields, Manchester Pride and Notting Hill Carnival all fall during this unsettled spell.
Saturday brings a zone of wet weather moving east across England and Wales, while Sunday could see heavy, thundery showers across most of the UK. Wind gusts may touch 40-45mph in the far south-west of England later on Sunday.
As real-time forecasting tools evolve, keeping pace with extreme-weather coverage remains essential — explore more in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub. Temperatures should range from 16C in northern Scotland to 23C in southern England, with no sign of a return to this summer's dry, hot conditions.