Severe weather warning goes up across Berkshire and North Hampshire

The Met Office alert is for thunderstorms including heavy rain

Author: Carol MusgravePublished 2nd Aug 2021

A thunderstorm warning has been issued covering all of Berkshire and North Hampshire.

The yellow alert is in place until 11pm tonight (2 August).

It could see some areas getting rainfall of more than 50mm within a few hours, as well as lightning and hail.

It also warns of heavy showers, which could cause travel disruption and flooding: "Heavy showers already affecting the south and east of the Isle of Wight will become more widespread across the warning area through the afternoon, with some thunderstorms also developing.

"These may be quite slow-moving and last for an hour or two.

"Some torrential downpours are possible with a few places seeing 50 mm of rain or more within a few hours.

"Lightning and hail are also additional hazards."

Berkshire and North Hampshire's five day forecast:

Today:

Monday will start mainly dry with sunny spells and light winds. Increasing chance of sharp slow-moving showers by the afternoon and evening, perhaps turning thundery. Best of the increasingly hazy sunshine probably near coasts. Maximum temperature 22 °C.

Tonight:

Starting mostly cloudy with slow-moving evening showers persisting in some areas, although much of the region will become dry after midnight with clear spells. Chilly by dawn. Minimum temperature 10 °C.

Tuesday:

Bright, chilly start in most places before cloud increases by midday with a few heavy and slow-moving showers developing, perhaps thundery. Mostly sunny near coasts. Light winds. Maximum temperature 23 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

An unsettled spell of weather with some clear or sunny spells and heavy showers developing each day, with torrential downpours likely to affect some areas, perhaps more especially during Thursday.