Much of UK at risk of thunderstorms with possible flooding

FILE PIC: A car runs on a flooded road during a heavy rain in London, Britain, on July 25, 2021. /Xinhua

Weather forecasters have said much of the United Kingdom is at risk of thunderstorms on Saturday.

A yellow warning for heavy showers and thunder has been issued by the Met Office, with up to 40mm (1.6 inches) falling in a couple of hours in some areas.

There could be flooding, power cuts and travel disruption in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But next week, conditions are expected to improve for the UK with drier, warmer and sunnier weather.

The yellow warning lasts from midday until 10pm on Saturday and covers large swathes of the three nations, apart from some of southeast and eastern England, and some coastal areas.

The Met Office said: "Following rain overnight and during the morning, heavier showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out by late morning.

"These becoming more widespread into the afternoon, with torrential downpours possible in a few places, bringing around 20mm of rain in less than an hour and 30-40 mm in a couple of hours.

(With input from agencies)