Tornado alert tonight as heavy rain and thunderstorms strike amid two Met Office warnings

Warnings of flooding and even brief tornadoes have been issued for parts of the UK as heavy rain begins to lash down on many regions of the country.

The Met Office has in place three separate yellow rain warnings for the UK: one of the Midlands and the south of England, a second for the north-east and a third for the eastern side of Northern Ireland.

A more severe amber alert is also active for a central region of England – including Birmingham, Worcester, Leicester and Peterborough – with rain likely to cause flooding and disruption this evening and Friday morning.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation has also forecast much of the south-east will see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”. This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.

A total of 30 flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 85 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

It follows heavy rain and flash flooding in some parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday. In Northamptonshire, a holiday park was evacuated due to flooding on Tuesday night.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “We are expecting an area of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon and evening across parts of the Midlands. The rain will fall onto already saturated ground, potentially affecting communities still recovering from recent flooding.”

Key Points

• Tornado alert issued

• Amber alert issued for heavy rain

• In pictures: Areas still flooded from rain earlier this week

• The weather picture for Thursday

Mapped: 44 red and yellow flood alerts issued in England

22:18 , Barney Davis

Alternative means of travel

21:22 , Alex Ross

While the rain comes down in many areas of the country, we look back here at a picture taken today on the River Cam in Cambridge where passengers on a boat protect themselves from the downpours.

Cambridge is under an amber alert tonight, which means flooding is likely.

More flood warnings issued across England

20:48 , Barney Davis

As of 8.46pm, the Environment Agency had 40 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 114 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is also forecasting that much of the South East could see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”.

Important people adjust their driving behaviour and take extra care – National Highways

20:30 , Alex Ross

With yellow and amber warnings for much of England warning of disruption on the roads, National Highways has urged caution from drivers.

National network manager Stephen Basterfield said: “With heavy rain expected to cause further flooding and disruption today and overnight its important people adjust their driving behaviour and take extra care.

“Road users should plan their journey and check the latest updates on diversion routes before they travel as these could be impacted with more rainfall.

“We have a section of our website dedicated to travelling when it is raining, as part of our guide to travelling in severe weather.”

Plenty of rain tonight

19:22 , Alex Ross

As the Met Office forecasts, and this graphic shows, heavy rain will fall over much of the UK tonight.

Tewkesbury Borough Council handing out sandbags

19:17 , Barney Davis

A council in Gloucestershire is handing out sandbags to residents to help protect their homes against flooding.

Tewkesbury Borough Council posted on social media: “During extreme weather events, we provide sandbags for residents to protect their homes from flooding.

“Please be considerate to others who may need to protect their homes. Emergency sandbags are available to protect habitable areas of your home, rather than gardens or garages.

“Four sandbags are sufficient for most doorways, and during emergencies, officers will provision appropriately to ensure as many homes are protected as possible.”

Amber warning now in place across Midlands

18:48 , Barney Davis

Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding and transport disruption this evening until 6am.

The Met Office said: “Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.

“This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.”

Flash flooding strikes UK with nearly 40 warnings in place

18:37 , Barney Davis

Parts of Britain have been struck by more flash floods as the Met Office warns of more heavy rain.

The forecaster has issued an amber warning for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, which came into force at 6pm on Thursday and will last for 12 hours.

Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland.

As of 6.17pm, the Environment Agency had 38 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 105 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

Warning to road users

18:20 , Alex Ross

As roads look likely to be impacted by heavy rain tonight, the Environment Agency is reminding peopel to take care when driving through flood water.

Kate Marks, flood duty manager, said “We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.”

Pictures: People stranded in floods and heavy rain

18:02 , Barney Davis

Met Office map shows storms circling Midlands

17:38 , Barney Davis

Environment Agency teams ‘on the ground’

17:16 , Alex Ross

With heavy rainfall forecast across many areas of the UK, including some areas already under water, the Environment Agency (EA) has been busy working with impacted communities.

As of 4pm, there were 30 flood warnings in place, where flooding is likely, plus 84 flood alerts, where flooding could happen.

Kate Marks, flood duty manager at the EA, said: “Heavy rainfall across the country means that significant river and surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of central England today and into Friday. Minor river flooding impacts are also possible in parts of north-east England today and Friday.

“Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.

“People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates.”

Weather warnings mapped

16:20 , Alex Ross

Here’s a graphic showing the weather warnings in place and the amount of rain expected in each region

Some early footage of the wind and rain in London tonight

16:06 , Alex Ross

15:56 , Alex Ross

The amber warning is in place for many areas of the country badly impacted by rain earlier this week.

This includes St Ives in Cambridgeshire, where areas are still under water.

Met Office chief meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “he rain will fall onto already saturated ground, potentially affecting communities still recovering from recent flooding.”

What to expect in areas facing yellow and amber warning

15:39 , Alex Ross

As many parts of the country face a blustery and wet night with the chance of disruptions, the Met Office has issued a list of what people should expect under each of the warnings.

For a yellow weather warning:

• There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses

• 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 small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life

For a amber weather warning:

• Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

• Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings

• A good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads

• Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely

• Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely

Weather warnings across UK

15:36 , Alex Ross

Here’s the latest map showing the weather warnings in place for rain tonight.

A yellow weather warning for eastern Northern Ireland will end at 6pm, for the north-east at midnight and for the Midlands and the south at 9am.

A more severe amber alert is in place for a central region, and is expected to end at 6pm. The warning states: “Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding and transport disruption this evening and overnight.”

Tornado alert issued

15:24 , Alex Ross

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is forecasting much of the south-east to see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”.

This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.

It comes after the Met Office issued an amber warning earlier on Thursday for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, set to come into force at 6pm on Thursday and last for 12 hours.

Looking further ahead

14:43 , Alex Ross

Following Friday, the Met Office says the rain will clear and the country will experience colder conditions.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist David Oliver said: “The rain will clear south during Friday allowing Arctic air to cross the country.

“This gives a much colder but quieter interlude in the south on Saturday, although a few showers will spread across northern areas. An area of low pressure then moves in from the southwest later in the weekend and crosses the UK during Sunday and Monday.”

Measures of rainfall over next 24 hours

14:08 , Alex Ross

The Met Office has produced a tidy visualisation that shows the amount of rainfall predicted over the next 24 hours.

The north east and central England, where there is an amber alert for rain, face the highest levels.

Amber warning in place until 9am on Friday

13:40 , Alex Ross

Areas affected by the amber warning, including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the Met Office.

According to the warning, the weather could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded and there is a “good chance” some communities will be cut off due to floods.

Delays and cancellations to train and bus services and power cuts are also likely.

How much rain are we expecting?

13:00 , Alex Ross

The Met Office says some places, especially across the central and eastern parts of the amber warning area, will see 30 to 40 mm of rainfall in up to three hours.

This could increase to 50 to 60 mm overnight in some areas.

‘Increased risk of impacts’

12:38 , Alex Ross

The Met Office has now provided some commentary on the recently issued amber warning, explaing what many parts of the UK should face this afternoon and evening.

As we’ve already said, many parts of the UK are covered by a yellow warning for rain, although a central region of England has seen its alert heightened to amber this morning.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “We are expecting an area of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop this afternoon and evening across parts of the Midlands.

“The rain will fall onto already saturated ground, potentially affecting communities still recovering from recent flooding. An amber warning as been issued covering the areas of increased risk of impacts.

Flood warnings in place

12:00 , Alex Ross

Over the past 24 hours, 19 flood warnings have been removed by the Environment Agency, but there are still 27 in place, where flooding is expected.

The flood warnings, most of which are in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, are in place due to further rain expected on Thursday and Friday.

There are also 65 flood alerts in place, where flooding is possible.

Visualisation shows why amber warning is in place

11:45 , Alex Ross

The Met Office has issued a graphic showing how the band of rain will impact central England from tonight into Friday morning:

What should people expect in am amber warning?

11:30 , Alex Ross

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain for a central region of England. Here is what the agency says people should expect:

• Spray and flooding probably leading to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

• Homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, causing damage to some buildings

• A good chance some communities will be cut off by flooded roads

• Delays and some cancellations to train and bus services are likely

• Power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses likely

In pictures: Areas still flooded from rain earlier this week

11:20 , Alex Ross

In Northamptonshire, some low lying areas were badly impacted by the rain earlier this week.

At the Billing Aquadrome leisure park, residents had to be evacuated from their homes, while several main roads were also shut due to flooding.

Pictures today show how some areas are still impacted.

Amber weather warning issued by Met Office

11:13 , Alex Ross

The Met Office has just raised its warning for heavy rain for a central part of England from a yellow alert to amber.

This means that heavy rain is likely to cause flooding and transport disruption this evening and overnight.

The region has already suffered flooding following downpours earlier in the week, in particular, in low lying areas in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

The south of England and Wales will be the worst affected areas today

10:20 , Alex Ross

With rain forecast across many regions of the UK today, a yellow weather warning is in place for the south of England and Wales, and will remain in place until Friday morning at 9am.

The Met Office says people in areas such as Birmingham, London, Bristol and Cardiff should expect heavy rain with the potential for flooding and disruption to transport.

There’s also a chance of thunderstorms.

The Met Office says: “Whilst some areas will miss the worst, heavy showers and some thunderstorms will occur during today, potentially becoming more organised across a swathe of Wales and into central and eastern England during Thursday evening and on into early Friday morning.”

Movement of bands of rain across the UK

09:53 , Alex Ross

As this graphic from the Met Office shows, the day begins with heavy showers in the north east before later in the day, from around 11am, bands of rain drift up through the south of the country where there is a yellow weather warning in place.

The picture for Thursday

09:50 , Alex Ross

Here we can see the Met Office’s yellow warnings for rain covering large parts of the country.

For Northern Ireland, the warning is until 12noon, for the north east it is until midnight and for the south it is until 9am on Friday.

For the south, the Met Office says people should be braced for heavy rain that could bring flooding and disruption to transport. It adds there is a small chance of floodwater causing danger to life.

Also in the south, the Met Office says there is a chance of some thunderstorms.