UK weather: Met Office issues more thunderstorm warnings

Parts of the nation have endured five days of temperatures above 30C in September for the first time, with further record temperatures expected this weekend.

It’s likely Saturday (September 9) will exceed the record high temperature from earlier in the week, with areas around London suffering from most of the hot weather.

Met Offices issues additional thunderstorm warnings across the UK this weekend

Forecasters say the mercury is expected to hit 33C in southern England but heavy showers and thunderstorms are set to batter a large swathe of the country.

A yellow warning issued by the Met Office spans east Wales, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Manchester, Nottingham and Oxford, and will be in place from 2pm to 9pm today.

The same warning has been issued for Sunday (September 10) covering Northern Ireland, northern parts of England and Wales, and southern Scotland between 2pm and 11.59pm.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert, meaning weather impacts are likely to be felt across the health service, with those aged above 65 or those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease at greater risk.

Tips for sleeping in the heat

The Met Office’s yellow weather warning means some people could be in store for some flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds, with possible interruptions to road access and public transport if such circumstances were to occur.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Although much of the UK will see high temperatures and sunny skies continue on Saturday, in what has a possibility of being the hottest day of the year so far, there’s also the potential for some thunderstorms, which has resulted in a yellow warning being issued for much of central England and parts of east Wales.

“Temperatures will begin to trend downwards from Saturday in the far north-west of Scotland, with a cold front gradually moving south through the weekend, bringing with it the risk of some heavy and thundery downpours on Sunday as well.

“However, the south-east will hold on to the high temperatures the longest and could still reach 32C on Sunday.”

UK motorists warned against driving through flood waters as thunderstorms are expected

Where will we see showers and thunderstorms today?

Here’s Rachel Ayers with your latest forecast pic.twitter.com/GeNOJnVMzM

— Met Office (@metoffice) September 9, 2023

Environment Agency flood duty manager Chris Wilding has warned motorists against driving through floodwaters in the case of flash flooding.

Mr Wilding said: “Significant surface water flooding is possible but not expected across parts of England on Saturday afternoon and evening due to isolated intense downpours.

“We urge people not to drive through floodwater – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.”

When will the heatwave end in the UK?

From next week, it’s thought the UK will return to cooler weather, with a mix of sunshine, showers, and some windy conditions likely as temperatures return towards the average for the time of year.