Thunderstorms to hit parts of UK as warm weather set to continue

For the second day in a row it was the hottest day of 2021 on Tuesday, which was the first day of meteorological summer, after a toasty 25.8C was recorded in both Cardiff and Middle Wallop.

Wednesday is expected to be another fine day for many, but thunderstorms are likely across parts of south-west England and south-west Wales, leading the Met Office to issue a yellow weather warning for these areas.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “The thunderstorms could bring lots of lightning, some hail, as well as some heavy rain, and with the half term there is an increased number of tourists in this area.

“The thunderstorms do then push north-eastwards into the Midlands and across more of Wales, but they also ease and break up, so these places will see some showers but they won’t be as intense.”

The Met Office’s yellow thunderstorm alert from 5am to 11am warns there could be some short-term loss of power and other services, while delays to train services and poor road conditions are possible.

But Mr Burkill said that Wednesday was likely to be hotter than Tuesday, with the possibility of a sizzling 28C or 29C in some areas.

Looking ahead to Thursday, nationwide temperatures are expected to lower a little but with fine and dry weather for most, although a few thundery showers remain possible.

The warm weather has been a welcome break for people following a washout May, which brought heavy downpours and prolonged spells of rain for much of the UK.

Wales experienced the wettest May since records began in 1862, with 245mm of rainfall, topping the previous record of 184mm set in 1967, according to the Met Office.

The UK has seen its fourth highest amount of rainfall on record for the month, with an average of 120mm.

Meanwhile, England had its fifth wettest May on record, and its wettest since 1967, with 111mm of rain.