Thunderstorm alerts in Cambridgeshire
High rainfall is expected, with possible delays on the roads and across the rail network
Last updated 1st Aug 2024
The hot temperatures over the last few days are expected to be followed by thunderstorms throughout the day in Cambridgeshire
While temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius in parts of the country yesterday, particularly the South East of England, storms are expected to cool down the atmosphere today.
However, the Met Office warned this could to be followed by intense rain, with some areas expected to see as much as a month's rainfall in a few hours, increasing the risk of flooding.
A yellow thunderstorm alert in place yesterday has also been extended to much of England and Wales until 11.59pm.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley said the most intense impacts on Thursday were "likely to be focused on central, southern and South East areas of England".
He said: "Here some locations will witness torrential downpours, large hail and frequent lightning.
"A few places could see 50-100mm of rainfall in a few hours."
The Met Office further added some weather warnings could be issued with short notice as thunderstorm activity develops.
Meteorologist Rebecca Mitchell said: "There's potential for some really intense thundery downpours during Thursday afternoon, that could potentially lead to some localised flooding issues particularly in towns and cities where the water runs off the pavements and roads very quickly."
"These kind of showers, we describe them as popcorn showers, they bubble up just about anywhere so if you are doing any particularly long journeys you are likely to encounter some of these showers on Thursday afternoon."
"Where we get these heavy thundery showers in the summer they can sometimes cause power outages if they strike any power lines, so potential for some areas to see some power cuts on Thursday."
"Its really tricky to say exactly where that might be but anywhere within that yellow warning area is definitely at risk."
Charities have also issued warnings, with Shelter advising the weather could cause "big risk for people who are homeless on the streets".
Dogs Trust, like other animal charities, also warned there was "no safe amount of time to leave dogs alone in a car" in hot weather.