Weather warnings issued as summer’s fourth heatwave brings thunderstorms and showers
Weather warnings have been issued as the fourth heatwave of the summer brings thunderstorms and showers.
Listen to this article
Alerts have been issued from 6pm today to 6pm on Monday across the nation, as another week of hot weather looms.
Yellow alerts have been issued for:
- Yorkshire and The Humber,
- East Midlands,
- West Midlands,
- East of England,
- London,
- the South East,
- South West
An amber heat alert was due end at 6pm in the Midlands, London, the South East, and East of England.
The warnings mean significant impacts on health and social care services are possible due to high temperatures, including a potential rise in deaths among the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Under UKHSA and the Met Office, a yellow alert means that weather conditions may cause an increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and a rise in risk to health for those aged over 65, or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Read More: Stargazers revel at spectacular meteor shower - here’s how you can still catch it
Heavy rain and thunder hit London and Kent on Wednesday afternoon, and the Met Office said it was likely the South East would continue to get thick clouds and a risk of heavy thundery showers overnight.
Northern England and Northern Ireland should see isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms and flood alerts have been issued for Scotland.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued alerts across 19 regions. It says heavy thundery showers or rain may affect the region during Wednesday afternoon and evening and during Thursday, with a risk of significant localised flooding effects from surface water and smaller rivers.
The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for most of Scotland from 2pm until midnight, with the potential for up to 30mm of rain in less than an hour, and 50mm locally, as well as hail and gusty winds.
Wednesday began warm following a sweltering night for most of the country.
The highest temperature recorded on Tuesday night was 19.4C in Myerscough, Lancashire, with 16.4C in Killylane, Antrim, Northern Ireland, 17.1C in Salsburgh, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and 17.9C in St Athan, Wales.
The highest temperature recorded overnight in 2025 so far was 22.2C in Heathrow on July 1.
Officials have said that England is suffering from "nationally significant" water shortfalls, despite rain in July.
The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status.
England is suffering widespread environmental and agricultural effects from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said.
On Thursday there will be residual showers and isolated thunderstorms across the South East, gradually clearing, and lightning, hail and heavy rain drifting northwards from Scotland into the Northern Isles.
Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Some areas will continue to experience their fourth heatwave of the summer so far, with Thursday remaining warm or very warm for many, though cooler near coasts.
"Temperatures could still reach 30C in eastern England, though many areas will be a few degrees cooler than earlier in the week."
Northern England will have patchy rain and cloud on Friday while southern England will enjoy sunshine and temperatures of up to 31C.
The weekend should be dry and sunny for most parts of the UK, climbing to 30C on Saturday and 29C on Sunday in south-west England.