A yellow thunderstorm alert has been issued for Kent with downpours and travel disruption expected.
The warning, issued by the Met Office, covers much of the country and will be in force from 9pm tomorrow (July 18) until 6pm on Saturday (July 19).
Forecasters warn torrential rain could bring 20-30mm of rainfall in under an hour, with some places seeing as much as 60-90mm in less than three hours, potentially leading to dangerous flash flooding.
Thundery rain will reach the south of the country on Friday evening before spreading north to affect much of England through Saturday.
As well as heavy rainfall, there’s a risk of lightning strikes, strong gusts of wind and large hail, which could damage property and trigger power outages.
Transport networks are also expected to be affected, with a risk of delays or cancellations to trains and buses.
The poor weather may also lead to difficult driving conditions and potential road closures with the public urged to take precautions, especially if living in areas at risk of flash floods.
People are advised to:
– Prepare flood kits and emergency plans if needed
– Secure outdoor items such as bins, trampolines or garden furniture
– Avoid sheltering under trees during thunderstorms
– Check travel updates and amend plans if necessary
– Gather torches, batteries and power banks in case of outages
Further storms may develop across the region on Saturday afternoon, even after the heaviest rain has passed.
The Met Office is urging people to stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts, as warnings can change quickly.
