The Met Office has issued warnings of intense rainfall and the potential for thunderstorms this week as warm air flows into the UK from Iberia and France. While Tuesday will see drier conditions with widespread sunshine, heavy showers are expected to arrive by Wednesday evening, mainly in western regions. Some areas could experience between 20 to 40mm of rain in just a few hours, raising concerns over local flooding and disruption.
Temperatures are also set to climb, with south-east and central England possibly reaching highs of 27°C on Wednesday and Thursday, rising further to 29°C on Friday. This warming trend is driven by a plume of humid air sweeping in from southern Europe, increasing the risk of thundery showers.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone explained, “After a relatively calm start to the week, intense thunderstorms are likely to develop on Wednesday evening, triggered by warm, humid air moving northwards. The heavy downpours could cause disruptions, although no severe weather warnings have been issued yet. It is possible that thunderstorm alerts may be activated later this week.”
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These stormy conditions are predicted to shift north and east on Thursday, with a brief pause on Friday before further rain arrives from the southwest, continuing into early Saturday. Silverstone added, “There is a chance that heatwave thresholds could be met in parts of the northwest Midlands, northwest England, and northeast Wales, but this depends heavily on cloud cover. The humidity will make this warm spell feel more uncomfortable compared to the drier, cooler nights experienced in May.”
Residents are advised to prepare for warmer, stickier conditions and potential thunderstorm-related disruptions as the UK’s weather unsettles over the coming days.