After weeks of weather whiplash—swinging from sweltering heatwaves to grey, soggy skies—the UK’s summer is back to being unpredictable.
And now, the Met Office has issued a fresh weather alert: expect thunderstorms, heavy showers, and potential flash floods across much of southern England on Thursday.
Yellow Warnings in Place for Huge Swath of England
Forecasters have slapped yellow weather warnings across three major regions—East of England, London and the South East, and South West England—from 10am to 9pm on Thursday.
That covers dozens of local areas and millions of residents.
And this isn’t your average passing drizzle.
Meteorologists are warning that some spots could see up to 35mm of rain in just one hour—the equivalent of a whole week’s rainfall.
In the most intense areas, it might even reach 60mm in two hours, more than many parts of the UK get in the entire month of June.
What to Expect: Flash Flooding, Lightning, and Travel Chaos
This kind of sudden, intense rain comes with problems.
The Met Office has flagged risks of localised flash floods, delays on roads and railways, difficult driving conditions, and even potential power cuts.
“Thunderstorms and heavy showers will kick off Thursday morning and carry on through the afternoon,” said forecasters.
“Torrential downpours could affect certain spots, along with frequent lightning and possibly hail.”
Later in the day, the stormy activity is expected to narrow down more to the south and east before easing off in the evening.
Where the Storms Are Likely to Hit
Here’s a breakdown of the main regions and the areas on alert:
East of England
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Central Bedfordshire
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Essex
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Hertfordshire
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Luton
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Southend-on-Sea
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Suffolk
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Thurrock
London & South East
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Greater London
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Kent
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Hampshire
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East Sussex
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West Sussex
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Brighton and Hove
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Buckinghamshire
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Surrey
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Oxfordshire
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Isle of Wight
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Reading
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Slough
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Medway
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Southampton
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Portsmouth
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Bracknell Forest
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West Berkshire
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Windsor and Maidenhead
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Wokingham
South West England
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Bristol
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Somerset
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Dorset
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Gloucestershire
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Swindon
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Wiltshire
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Bath and North East Somerset
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North Somerset
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South Gloucestershire
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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
London Fire Brigade Issues Flooding Advice
Even though no official flood warnings have been issued yet, the London Fire Brigade is urging people to prepare.
A spokesperson explained that recent hot weather has dried out the soil, making it hard for the ground to soak up heavy rain.
This raises the risk of flash flooding.
Their tips?
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Keep a “grab bag” ready in case you need to evacuate.
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Use sandbags or other protections to shield your property.
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Check on vulnerable neighbours.
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And absolutely do not drive through flooded roads—even if it looks shallow.
More Wet Weather Likely as August Arrives
Clare Nasir from the Met Office said showers will move across southern England and Wales by Thursday morning, with more unsettled weather continuing into the afternoon.
Northern and western Scotland may also see some rain.
Overall, meteorologists are rating the potential impact of Thursday’s weather as “medium,” meaning disruption is likely in the worst-hit places.
Looking further ahead, the first half of August is shaping up to be wetter and windier than usual, thanks to a deep area of low pressure expected to push in.
However, there’s still some hope—forecasters are predicting more settled, drier conditions by mid to late August.
One Silver Lining: Gardens Finally Catch a Break
On the bright side, gardens across the south might finally get a bit of relief.
After weeks of hosepipe bans affecting 8.5 million customers from South East Water, Thames Water, Southern Water, and Yorkshire Water, Thursday’s rain could help restore some depleted reservoirs and aquifers.
No word yet on when the hosepipe bans will lift, but for now, at least Mother Nature is helping out—without the risk of getting tattled on by a neighbour for watering your roses.