London could be hit by flooding and power cuts as forecasters predict the capital will be pelted with thunderstorms following a mini heatwave.
A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued by the Met Office covering London and the south of England from midday until midnight on Wednesday.
A similar yellow alert has also been issued for most of England and parts of Wales for the whole of Thursday, which could cause road closures and delays to trains and buses.
⚠️Yellow weather warning updated ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 30, 2024
Thunderstorms across England and Wales
Thursday 1200am – 23:59pm
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/QzSwAzPx1W
Temperatures could still reach 28C on Wednesday despite the potential stormy conditions as London continues to see sweltering temperatures.
Tuesday is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far with the mercury reaching 32C.
Temperatures previously reached 31.9C at St James’s Park in central London on July 19 beating the previous record high for 2024, 30.5C recorded in Wisley, Surrey, on June 26.
Chief meteorologist Frank Saunders said large swathes of the UK will feel the heat up to the middle of the week.
“Temperatures are likely to peak at around 32C in southeast England on Tuesday and Wednesday, with much of the UK experiencing dry, fine and warm conditions in the first half of the week,” he said.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health warnings for all areas of England, except the north east and north west, until Friday.
The UKHSA warned that expected hot weather may have “significant impacts” on the health and social care sector across the south east and London, with minor impact elsewhere.
But while many enjoy the heat, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver issued a warning for southern areas to prepare for a wild and wet end to the week.
“There’s a chance of some thundery showers across some southern areas of England on Wednesday, then on Thursday there is a signal for some potentially very heavy thunderstorms to develop,” he said.
“There are still details to confirm during this period, but in any event there is a chance of some impacts on each day, especially Thursday.”
He added: “The heaviest showers on Thursday could result in 20-30mm of rain within an hour, with daily totals possibly reaching as high as 90mm if multiple showers impact the same location. Lightning and hail present additional hazards, with disruption likely for some.
“This is a developing element of the forecast, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest outlook in the coming days.”
