The weather is set to take a turn for the worse in some parts of the UK.
The warnings are in place for seven regions (Image: Getty)
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for 7 regions in Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as the UK braces for wet and windy conditions. A yellow thunderstorm warning comes into effect at 2pm and will be in place until 11.59pm covering most of Scotland, with the government agency warning that while “most areas will remain dry, a few isolated to well-scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms could develop on Wednesday afternoon and evening”.
“Where these occur, some places could receive 20-30 mm in less than an hour, with very localised totals in excess of 50 mm possible if storms repeatedly affect the same areas,” it adds. “The most intense thunderstorms could produce large hail and gusty winds.
“Showers and thunderstorms will tend to ease mid to late evening, but may linger over Orkney and the far north of mainland Scotland into the first part of the night.”
Residents in the six affected regions are warned:
- Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads
- Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
- There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds
- There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life
Regions and local authorities under the warning include:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
Weather map showing the first yellow weather warning to come into effect at 2pm today. (Image: Met Office)
A second thunderstorm warning for much of Scotland and Northern Ireland comes into effect at midnight tonight and will remain in effect until 10pm tomorrow (Thursday, August 14).
The following regions and local authorities are included in it:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Angus
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
Grampian
- Aberdeen
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Highland
Northern Ireland
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Orkney & Shetland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- Argyll and Bute
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Renfrewshire
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
The Met Office says that though “not all areas will be affected, heavy showers and thunderstorms may develop in places during the early hours of Thursday and into Thursday morning, perhaps merging into some larger areas of rain”.
It continues: “Where heavy downpours occur, 20-40 mm of rain could accumulate in less than an hour, bringing the risk of some surface water flooding. Hail and lightning will be additional hazards.
“Further scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms are then likely to develop on Thursday afternoon and evening across portions of central and eastern Scotland in particular.
Map showing the second yellow warning coming into effect at midnight. (Image: Met Office)
“These will be rather slow-moving, potentially giving isolated accumulations of 40-60 mm in an hour, with a higher likelihood of some impacts from surface water flooding. Showers and thunderstorms should slowly decay during the mid to late evening.”
Advice accompanying both warnings says people in affected areas should take various steps, like considering if your location is at risk of flash flooding, and if so, “consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit”.
Other important precautions to take include preparing to protect your property and people from injury.
“Before gusty winds arrive, check to ensure moveable objects or temporary structures are well secured. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences,” the Met Office says.
“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.
“People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
“If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car). Do not shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area move to lower ground.
It also warns people in regions under the warning to be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly, adding: “when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area”.
You can find the latest warnings and further guidance here.
