Following a build of very warm and humid air from mid-week onwards there is the potential for the development of large thunderstorms over the UK from Friday night. In this situation large amounts of energy are available in the atmosphere and this coupled with high moisture content can lead to torrential downpours along with frequent lightning activity, large hail and locally strong gusts. In this situation many elements need to come together at the same time to form these thunderstorms and so there remains large uncertainty in their development. This alert is therefore likely to be updated in the coming days.


Areas of heavy, thundery showers may develop over England and Wales from Friday night before moving northwards into Scotland later on Saturday. The development of these is uncertain but where they do form some torrential downpours are possible with frequent lightning, large hail and locally strong gusts. Significant flooding is possible where these do occur from surface water as well as small, fast responding watercourses. The frequent lightning, large hail and strong gusts could also be an additional hazard.

The public should be aware of the risk of disruption from any of these elements. This alert has been updated to add Eastern Scotland into the area at risk but further updates are likely in the coming days.

Access Met Office warning here.