Two-day weather warning for torrential rain after the heatwave in Cornwall
The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for downpours, with the risk of flash flooding
Last updated 21st Jul 2021
Despite the heatwave that is currently baking Cornwall, the Met Office has warned of rain and the risk of flooding over the weekend.
It has issued a yellow weather warning for downpours on Saturday and Sunday, covering the whole of the south west, the Midlands and most of Wales.
Forecasters warn that heavy rain and thundery showers may lead to flooding and transport disruption over the weekend.
The alert will be in force from 00:00am on Saturday 24th July until 23.59pm on Sunday 25th July.
It follows the Met Office amber warning for extreme heat, which remains in force until the end of Thursday (22nd July): Read more.
What weather can we expect over the weekend?
Here is what the Met Office says the risks are over the weekend:
- There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings
- Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services
- Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
- There is a small chance that some communities will become cut off by flooded roads
- There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses
The Met Office forecast says: "Outbreaks of rain and some thunderstorms are expected to spread from the south-west on Friday night, this introducing unsettled conditions to much of England and Wales for Saturday and Sunday.
"Heavy, thundery showers are likely to break out by day, particularly on Sunday when these could be widespread and locally torrential.
"Lightning and hail are also expected.
"Rainfall amounts will vary from place to place, but there is the potential for up to 100mm to build up in some locations over the course of the weekend, much of which could fall in a short period of time".
Met Office
You can check the latest weather warnings for Cornwall and the UK here.
Expert advice on helping your children sleep in the warm weather
Windows: open or closed?
Leane from Sleep-ly, a company which specialises in children's bedtime routines told us about windows.
It may sound counterintuitive but having your windows open all day could actually make things worse. Leanne said:
"Keep the window shut, especially in sun-facing rooms because the circulating daytime heat will make the room much hotter in the evening time and that's when you'll struggle to put your child to sleep."
Use a wet flannel
Using a cold compress can also help to cool little ones down after a feed, Leanne said:
"Put a wet flannel on the back of your child's neck or on the front of their head, especially when you're about to give them a feed before bedtime."
"This is when the contact of two people can be really hot and that's when they can start to overheat before you put them down."
Get an accurate room thermometer
Before you can start to cool a room down, it's useful to know exactly what you're working with. Leanne added:
"Invest in a room thermometer to make sure that you get an accurate reading because sometimes when you read the reading from a monitor that you might be watching when your child is asleep, it can be less accurate than a normal room thermometer."
Use a fan wisely
How effective fans are at cooling down rooms can vary drastically on how you use them. Leanne said:
"Using a fan inside the hot room can make it even hotter."
"So one of my main tips would be to use the iced water bottle or a bowl of ice next to the fan to regulate the heat around it and keep the air cool."
Keep hydrated
Finally and potentially the most important, DRINK!
Leanne said: "Make sure your child has had plenty of fluids during the daytime."
"Also make sure that any waterproof mattress covers that you do use are removed."
"Some parents don't realise that that can cause excessive sweating that can also make them overheat in this really humid weather that we've got at the moment."