Heavy rain and thunderstorms may lead to disruption and flooding, Met Office warns

Heavy rain and thunderstorms may lead to some disruption and flooding, the Met Office has warned.

According to the weather service, there is likely to be frequent lightning, possible large hail and gusty winds, as well as torrential rainfall for some areas.

Early on Saturday, the weather is expected to hit central parts of southern England, as well as reach south Wales.

The Met Office says says 25 to 35 mm of rain could fall within an hour, with possible flooding. This could lead to damage to buildings from floodwater, power cuts and other lost services, as well as delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.

Further slow-moving thunderstorms will develop by Saturday afternoon across the southern counties of England, easing only slowly through the evening.

• Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
• Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes or hail
• Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
• Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

‘Affected’ 

Areas affected include:

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan