UK weather forecast: Met Office issues yellow thunderstorm warning

Lightning strikes and gusty winds likely to damage buildings, says weather agency

People caught in a heavy rain storm on London's Millennium Bridge last month. PA

A weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued across parts of the UK.

A yellow warning has been put in place from 8pm on Sunday until 4am on Monday, with the weather potentially causing some localised disruption, says the Met Office.

London and south-east England, south-west England, most of Northern Ireland, large parts of Wales, east of England, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire are all covered by the warning.

There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray or hail, and there will probably be some damage to buildings and structures from lightning strikes and gusty winds.

Flooding of homes and businesses is possible, and there could be delays to train services.

Forecasters say that some short-term loss of power and other services is also possible.

The Met Office said the heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across south-west England on Sunday and move north across parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.

They are expected to clear during the early hours of Monday.

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A separate area of thunderstorms is likely to develop across central southern England in the late evening, moving north into the Midlands overnight.

A few places may see 20mm to 30mm fall in less than an hour, while other places may not see much rainfall at all.

Forecasters said frequent lightning, hail and local gusty winds may accompany stronger thunderstorms, particularly across south-western parts of England and Wales.