A yellow weather warning for rain has been put in place for parts of London on Thursday as heavy rainfall could lead to flooding in some areas.
Forecasters have warned of travel disruption, flooding of roads and the possibility of power cuts, with 20 to 30mm of rain expected fairly widely.
In some areas, forecasters predict 40 to 50 mm of rainfall.
The yellow Met Office warning for the south of the UK from 9am until 10pm on Thursday covers the outer areas of south London.
It warns heavy rain falling on saturated ground may lead to some surface water flooding.
Residents are being urged to check whether their property is at risk of flooding and to prepare flood plans and emergency kits if needed.
Drivers and commuters are advised to monitor road conditions and public transport updates, and adjust travel plans where necessary.
Overnight into Thursday, the Met Office extended the weather warning across more parts of England, including the Midlands, South West and eastern areas.
The alert also now advises of strong winds.
“Rain will also be accompanied by strengthening winds through the afternoon and evening, particularly across southern and south east England where gusts around 50 mph may be possible along some exposed coasts,” the updated warning said.
It comes after Storm Goretti brought gusts of almost 100mph and a rare red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds in the south-west of England last week.
The storm has been blamed for a “major incident” in Kent and Sussex where around 30,000 properties were left without a water supply due to burst pipes and power cuts.
The latest alert comes as 2025 was named the third warmest year on record in a series from 1850, to 2024 and 2023.
Commenting on the three warmest year series, Met Office Chief Scientist Professor Stephen Belcher said: “From 2023 the globe has seen a surge in average annual temperatures. The three-year average global temperature from 2023 to 2025 has been 1.47°C above the average for 1850-1900.”
Cloud will thicken in the capital this evening, with rain spreading in from the southwest overnight, bringing the chance of heavy showers.
Fog patches may develop, with coastal winds strengthening and temperatures falling to around 5°C.
On Thursday, rain will move slowly north, bringing the risk of heavy and prolonged downpours and breezy to strong coastal winds.
Looking ahead to the weekend, conditions stay mostly cloudy with occasional rain or showers and some brighter spells, with temperatures near average.
