The Met Office has issued weather warnings for the UK, as the country prepares for widespread rain and thunderstorms. Yellow warnings extend throughout the country from its northernmost tip above Inverness to Penzance in the south. Forecasters expect heavy rain and lightning to continue from today until the evening on Wednesday.

According to the Met Office, thunderstorms will be widespread throughout the UK until Wednesday at 11.59pm.

Throughout this period, there is a chance homes and businesses could flood, and lightning could cause damage to buildings.

Storms could also sever electricity supplies, causing power cuts in some places.

Forecasters said deep floodwaters could also cause a “danger to life”.

In their warning, the Met Office mentioned some 50mm of rain could fall over the UK within three hours.

They said: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms will continue to spread north-east across England and Wales, whilst also increasing in frequency during the day.

“In a few places, there is the potential for 20-30 mm of rain to fall in an hour and 30 to 50 mm of rain to fall in 3 hours.

“Hail is also possible, mainly over Northern England.”

7.30pm update: Storms off the east coast of Ireland

Earlier storms from the Isle of Man are now touching down near Newcastle on Ireland’s east coast. 

7.15pm update:  New clusters between England and Ireland

A collection of new lightning clusters have debuted between England and Ireland. 

One storm has materialised off the west coast of the Isle of Man, in the sea between Downpatrick and Peel. 

A second storm looms nearby off the Isle of Man north-west coast. 

Further north, eight lightning strikes were detected in Scotland around Carrick Forest near New Galloway. 

Where is lightning striking right now?

According to lightning maps, thunderstorms are releasing lightning strikes around the north of the country.

A cluster of strikes has been detected above the Yorkshire Dales throughout the day, steadily moving further north.

Another cluster of activity was detected in the North Pennines, where consecutive lightning strikes have come down near Warcop Firing Range.

The second cluster of lightning has taken to the northeast coast near Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Here, regular lightning strikes are coming down on the A6055 near Catterick and the A66 (M).

The cluster is slowly making its way in a northwesterly direction towards the second storm front.

A third storm has taken to the coast near Llandudno in Wales and is slowly making its way inland.

Source: Read Full Article