A warning for potentially “intense” thunderstorms has been issued as temperatures soar in Hull and East Yorkshire.
The mercury is expected to reach 30C on Saturday during the hottest spell of the summer so far. However, the spike in warmth could trigger some heavy downpours in places.
The yellow-level warning, which covers large parts of the North, including all of East Yorkshire, will come into effect from 3pm on Saturday and be in force until 4am on Sunday.
In its warning, the Met Office says: “Whilst many places will likely remain dry and unaffected, scattered thunderstorms may develop during Saturday afternoon, lasting through the evening hours, moving northeastwards before eventually clearing to the North Sea by the early hours of Sunday.
“The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. This may lead to some surface water impacts in places.”
Though the precise location of where thunderstorms may develop is difficult to predict in advance, areas that are affected could see “difficult driving conditions and some road closures”. There is also “a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost”.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Holley, said: “The highest temperatures from this hot spell are forecast for Saturday, with low 30s Celsius fairly widely across England, and up to 34C possible in eastern areas. Despite this, the more uncomfortable heat will be in northern and western areas initially, where despite somewhat lower temperatures the air will be more humid.
“While Saturday will be a dry and fine day for many, a few showers or thunderstorms will be possible across northern and western parts of the UK, with an increasing risk of some intense thunderstorms developing across portions of north Wales, northern England and southern Scotland later in the afternoon and into the evening hours, which could bring heavy downpours, frequent lightning, gusty winds and possibly large hail.”
Temperatures are expected to be lower on Sunday, with highs in the mid 20s, before dropping further on Monday when they will peak at around 20C.
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