The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for intense thunderstorms that could affect parts of London today, May 25, as the city continues to experience a 34C heatwave. The alert is in effect from 3pm to 10pm, with potential isolated lightning strikes, large hail, heavy wind, and rain in some areas.
Warning Details and Affected Areas
The seven-hour warning primarily covers regions around Nottingham, Peterborough, Birmingham, and Oxford, but may also extend into northwest London. According to the Met Office, areas north and west of the M25, including Watford and Reading, could see turbulent weather. However, many locations within the warning zone are expected to remain hot and sunny. The warning has a low likelihood but potential medium impact on those outdoors.
Potential Disruptions
Where flooding, thunder, and lightning occur, there may be delays or cancellations to train and bus services. The possible rainfall could provide a welcome break from the record-breaking May temperatures. Thunderstorms are most common in the East Midlands and southeast UK, typically following prolonged warm weather. Hot air rises, cools, and condenses into water droplets; if unstable, it forms cumulonimbus clouds responsible for hail, thunder, and lightning.
Heatwave Continues
London temperatures are expected to remain high, with 34C forecast today before easing to around 25C by Wednesday. Health officials urge precautions: drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous activity during peak heat, keep homes cool, and check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Recent Met Office research indicates that breaking the UK's May temperature record is now three times more likely due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
Affected Regions and Local Authorities
- East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
- East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Peterborough, Suffolk
- London & South East England: Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
- North West England: Cheshire East
- South West England: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire
- West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
- Yorkshire & Humber: South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
