Met Office issues yellow warning as huge thunderstorms set to batter England and Wales

By Henry Moore

Huge thunderstorms look set to hit the UK on Saturday as the Met Office warns of hail and possible flooding.

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The forecaster has issued a yellow weather warning for Saturday morning in parts of England and Wales, as heavy rain rolls in.

Forecasters said about 30mm of rain could fall in just three hours in southern parts of the UK, with up to 50mm over the course of the day.

Met Office data shows England had 32.8mm of rain last month, almost half the month’s usual average.

They have forecast heavier and more frequent showers on Saturday, with hail and thunder possible and some unseasonably strong winds in coastal areas.

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The Met's warning covers large parts of southern England and much of Wales, lasting from 9am to 6pm on Saturday.

Warning of extreme weather, the forecaster said: "Frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected for much of Saturday before fading from the west during the mid to late afternoon.

"10-15 mm of rain could fall in less than an hour, whilst some places could see 30-40 mm of rain over several hours from successive showers and thunderstorms. Frequent lightning, hail and strong, gusty winds will be additional hazards."

There could also be a risk of surface-water flooding.

From June 1 to June 3 there has already been 10.7mm of rain, a fifth of the 50.9mm recorded for the UK during May.

Sunday looks to be drier and the better day of the weekend, before further rain in northern England on Monday.

Meteorologist Honor Criswick said the wet weather was because of low pressure.

She said: “At the north of the country this brings in a north-westerly wind, so gradually drags in frontal systems out from the west and south-west, and that leads to some pretty changeable and wet weather at times.”

Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said the weather for the rest of the week would be “changeable”.

She said: “Generally the theme is the continuation of something a bit cooler, a bit breezy at times, and a bit wet at times too.

“We are keeping an eye on a new front which looks like it will move in on Friday night, bringing rain which could be heavy, and possibly thundery at times on Saturday.

“Rainfall totals of 20-30mm are likely in places and, at present, this looks like it will affect the southern half of the UK. We are keeping a close eye on this to see how it evolves over the next 24 hours or so.”

Next week temperatures will rise to above average for the time of year, with highs of 25C next Wednesday in London and 23C in Manchester.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said the change in weather would be welcomed by many farmers.

Rachel Hallos, NFU vice president, said: “After such a dry start to the year, this weekend’s rainfall will be welcome in many areas.

“However, heavy downpours aren’t the ideal way to restore soil moisture, what farmers really need is steady, consistent rainfall to support crops and grazing without causing run-off or damaging soils.

“These changing weather patterns, from long dry periods to intense bursts of rain, highlight the need for long-term planning and investment in water, particularly the water we need to produce the food we enjoy.

“Things like rainwater harvesting and more flexible abstraction rules are important steps in adapting to these new conditions.”

Luke Hindle, duty manager for National Highways, urged drivers to plan journeys carefully.

He said: “Rainfall makes the surface of the road slippery, so increase the gap between yourself and the vehicle in front and keep your eyes on the road at all times as visibility can be reduced.”