Met Office issues 10-hour thunderstorm warning for Greater Manchester as record-breaking heatwave continues
A yellow warning for thunderstorms covers all of Greater Manchester from midnight to 10am on Friday, with forecasters warning of possible power cuts, flooding and travel disruption as the heat dome begins to break.
The Met Office has issued a new 10-hour yellow thunderstorm warning for Greater Manchester and much of England and Wales amid the record-breaking heatwave.
The warning comes into force at midnight on Friday and lasts until 10am, covering all of Greater Manchester.
The Met Office said: "Many areas are missing the worst, but thunderstorms could bring disruption in places during Thursday night and into Friday morning."
What could happen?
Forecasters have warned of a "slight chance" of power cuts and a "small chance" of flooding to homes and businesses. Thunderstorms may also lead to some travel disruption.
The warning also covers the North West, East Midlands, parts of London and the South East, the North East, South West England, Wales, the West Midlands and parts of Yorkshire and the Humber. A separate 24-hour thunderstorm warning has been issued for much of Scotland.
How hot has it been?
The heatwave brought record-breaking temperatures on Wednesday, with a provisional 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, breaking the previous June record from 1976. Forecasters said the figure could be "beaten again" on Thursday and Friday as the extreme heat continues.
The storms are expected to mark the beginning of the end of the intense heat that has closed schools, disrupted trains and overwhelmed supermarket refrigeration systems across Greater Manchester this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When does the thunderstorm warning start in Manchester?
- The yellow weather warning comes into effect at midnight on Friday and is expected to last until 10am.
- What disruption could the storms cause?
- The Met Office advises there is a small chance of localised flooding, slight risks of power cuts, and potential travel delays.
- Is the heatwave over?
- The storms follow a period of record-breaking heat, though forecasters note that high temperatures may still continue in some areas.