This page has an accessible alternative.

What do the warning colours mean?

Red warning

  • Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather.
  • It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

Amber warning

  • There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans.
  • This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property.

Yellow warning

  • Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations.
  • It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the warning.

Follow alerts in the app

UK weather warnings

Yellow warning
Thunderstorm
12:00
Tomorrow
UTC+1
20:00
Tomorrow

While many places will remain dry, thunderstorms and heavy showers could cause some disruption on Friday in a few places.

What should I expect?

  • Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes
  • Driving conditions may be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus
  • Delays to train services are possible
  • Some short term loss of power and other services is likely

What should I do?

Further detail

A few thundery showers may be present across southern and southeast England early on Friday, but from the middle of the day they are expected to develop more widely within the warning area. Whilst some places will remain dry, where thundery showers do occur, they will bring frequent lightning, gusty winds, potentially some large hail, as well as brief spells of heavy rain. 15-25 mm of rain fall may fall within an hour, with a very small chance of 30-40 mm falling in 3 hours; the latter most likely across southwest England. Showers will tend to ease and fade during Friday evening. What should I do? Consider if your location is at risk of flash flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit. 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. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area

Why is the warning yellow?

This warning has a medium likelihood and a low impact.

Very
likely
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
to
Unlikely
Very low
impact
to High
impact

Issued

Regions and local authorities affected:

East Midlands

  • Northamptonshire

East of England

  • Bedford
  • Central Bedfordshire
  • Hertfordshire
  • Luton

London & South East England

  • Bracknell Forest
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Greater London
  • Hampshire
  • Isle of Wight
  • Milton Keynes
  • Oxfordshire
  • Portsmouth
  • Reading
  • Slough
  • Southampton
  • Surrey
  • West Berkshire
  • West Sussex
  • Windsor and Maidenhead
  • Wokingham

South West England

  • Bath and North East Somerset
  • Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
  • Bristol
  • Cornwall
  • Devon
  • Dorset
  • Gloucestershire
  • North Somerset
  • Plymouth
  • Somerset
  • South Gloucestershire
  • Swindon
  • Torbay
  • Wiltshire

Wales

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • Bridgend
  • Caerphilly
  • Cardiff
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Ceredigion
  • Merthyr Tydfil
  • Monmouthshire
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Newport
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Powys
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf
  • Swansea
  • Torfaen
  • Vale of Glamorgan

West Midlands

  • Herefordshire
  • Shropshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Warwickshire
  • West Midlands Conurbation
  • Worcestershire
Yellow warning
Thunderstorm
01:00
Sat 21
UTC+1
23:59
Sat 21

Whilst some places will remain dry, thunderstorms and heavy showers could cause some disruption on Saturday in a few places.

What should I expect?

  • 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

What should I do?

Further detail

Whilst there is some uncertainty in the details , scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop and spread northwestwards at times later on Friday night and through Saturday. While much of the time it will be dry, and not all places will see these, where they do occur 20-40 mm could fall in less than an hour, with a small chance of isolated accumulations of 50-70 mm over the course of a few hours. In addition, hail and frequent lightning may accompany the most intense storms, especially during Saturday afternoon and evening in parts of the Midlands, southern England and east Wales. What should I do? Consider if your location is at risk of flash flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit. Prepare 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. 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. Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

Why is the warning yellow?

This warning has a very low likelihood and a medium impact.

Very
likely
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
to
Unlikely
Very low
impact
to High
impact

Issued

Regions and local authorities affected:

East Midlands

  • Derbyshire
  • Leicester
  • Leicestershire
  • Northamptonshire
  • Rutland

East of England

  • Bedford
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Central Bedfordshire
  • Hertfordshire
  • Luton

London & South East England

  • Bracknell Forest
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Hampshire
  • Milton Keynes
  • Oxfordshire
  • Reading
  • Slough
  • Southampton
  • Surrey
  • West Berkshire
  • Windsor and Maidenhead
  • Wokingham

North West England

  • Cheshire East
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • Halton
  • Merseyside

South West England

  • Bath and North East Somerset
  • Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
  • Bristol
  • Cornwall
  • Devon
  • Dorset
  • Gloucestershire
  • Isles of Scilly
  • North Somerset
  • Plymouth
  • Somerset
  • South Gloucestershire
  • Swindon
  • Torbay
  • Wiltshire

Wales

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • Bridgend
  • Caerphilly
  • Cardiff
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Ceredigion
  • Conwy
  • Denbighshire
  • Flintshire
  • Gwynedd
  • Isle of Anglesey
  • Merthyr Tydfil
  • Monmouthshire
  • Neath Port Talbot
  • Newport
  • Pembrokeshire
  • Powys
  • Rhondda Cynon Taf
  • Swansea
  • Torfaen
  • Vale of Glamorgan
  • Wrexham

West Midlands

  • Herefordshire
  • Shropshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Telford and Wrekin
  • Warwickshire
  • West Midlands Conurbation
  • Worcestershire
Warnings are in force for:

Follow alerts in the app