UK weather forecast – Met Office warns Easter thunderstorms, flash floods and lightning to batter parts of Britain
THUNDERSTORMS and flash floods are set to hit parts of England and Wales for the rest of the Easter Sunday, warns the Met Office.
The yellow warning, covering parts of the Midlands as well as eastern and northern Wales, is in place from 3pm until 11pm today.
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The Met Office has forecast heavy showers and thunderstorms over England Wales today.
Overnight southern areas of the UK will turn cloudier while clear spells and widespread frost develop in the north.
There is a small chance that home and businesses could be flooded quickly with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.
The Met Office warned that some communities could become cut off by flooded roads.
There are 32 flood alerts in place across England in areas including High Wycombe, Bishops Sutton, the Salisbury Plain Area and in the Upper Aldbourne Valley.
Brits are also told to expect delays and cancellations to trains and bus services in places were flooding or lightning strikes occur.
There is a slight chance that power cuts could happen and services to some homes could be lost.
STAY HOME
Brits are being reminded to follow Government advice and avoid visits to beaches and parks as the warm weather continues over the Easter weekend.
Photographs taken on Saturday showed Brits flouting coronavirus lockdown rules as temperatures peaked at 25.5C.
But it is hoped the the public will today abide by the social distancing measures and stay at home on Easter Sunday in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Parts of the south and east of England are also expected to see showers later in the afternoon.
North Yorkshire Police, which praised the public on Saturday for keeping its beaches and parks clear, asked people to do the same on Sunday.
The force tweeted: "As we head into tonight and the rest of the Bank Holiday please continue to make a difference. #StayHomeSaveLives."
As we head into tonight and the rest of the Bank Holiday please continue to make a difference.
North Yorkshire Police
The Met Office said St James's Park in central London recorded the highest temperature on Saturday, followed by Yeovilton in Somerset, which saw the mercury rise to 25.2C.
Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said the warm weather is likely to continue into Sunday, with temperatures peaking at around 24.8C in the London.
While most of the day will be clear in the south of England, he said there was a risk of thundery showers across parts of East Anglia and the Midlands during the afternoon.
One of London's parks introduced new measures on Saturday to deter people from sunbathing and gathering inside.
Visitors to the capital's newly reopened Victoria Park were played recorded messages urging them to follow social distancing measures, while mounted police and wardens patrolled the area.
Elsewhere in the UK, photographs show an almost empty beach at the popular seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire.
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An image of the same spot taken during the Easter weekend of 2019 shows the beach packed with members of the public.
Speaking at the daily press conference about the importance of keeping to the lockdown rules on Friday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This Easter will be another test of the nation's resolve. It's a time of year when people normally come together.
"But however warm the weather, however tempting your local beach or park, we need everyone to stay at home."
