New storm weather warning as care home hit by lightning
As ongoing storms persist, forecasters are cautioning about potential disruptions and flooding in parts of the Midlands, East of England, and Wales, as well as neighboring regions. Travel has already been impacted, with the Met Office alerting about heavy rain and frequent lightning strikes. The possibility of flooding could result in challenging driving conditions and road closures, as stated by the Met Office. The current weather warning spans from 12:00 to 23:59 BST.
Forecasters anticipate storms developing on Thursday afternoon and evening, moving gradually westwards or north-westwards from the east. Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to plan ahead. Over 70 flood warnings are currently active, primarily in southern England where rainfall was intense overnight.
While the worst of the weather will be dispersed, some areas within the warning zone might remain dry, while others may experience significant downpours. This latest warning follows dramatic thunderstorms across southern England and Wales on Wednesday night, awakening many with spectacular lightning displays.
Emma Richardson from Woking, Surrey, described it as an “amazing experience,” mentioning a giant rumble and cracking sound as the finale. Lightning in Westbury, Wiltshire, disrupted railway electricity supply, though services have since resumed.
In Devon, several roads were closed due to fallen trees and flooding. A lightning strike caused a house fire in Watford, and two buildings were damaged in Sussex. Despite the thunderstorm warning, forecasters anticipate the wet weather and storms to gradually ease throughout the day.
According to the Met Office, Thursday marked the warmest day of the year across the UK, with Santon Downham in Suffolk recording a high of 23.4C (74F). However, areas with persistent cloud cover or coastal winds experienced significantly lower temperatures.
