The Met Office has issued its first weather warning of the week ahead of the next UK heatwave expected to return this weekend. Yellow alerts for thunderstorms and rain have been put in place for Tuesday, June 30, affecting Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Heatwave Expected This Weekend
The UK heatwave could begin on Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, according to the Met Office. However, before that, two separate weather warnings have been issued for Tuesday.
Northern Ireland Warning
In Northern Ireland, the Met Office predicts: "Slow-moving thunderstorms this afternoon may cause travel disruption and flooding in a few places." The alert states: "Following overnight rain, showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across much of Northern Ireland. These showers and thunderstorms will become slow-moving for a time this afternoon, leading to the potential for some large rainfall accumulations to build up in a few places. 10-15 mm of rain likely in less than an hour for some, and perhaps 25-30 mm in 2-3 hours. This could cause some temporary flooding and difficult driving conditions. Hail and lightning will be additional hazards in the heaviest showers."
Scotland Warning
In Scotland, the alert reads: "Following rain overnight and this morning, which could be heavy at times, showers are expected to break out this afternoon which are likely to be slow-moving. A few places could see 20 mm in an hour, and there is a chance that the odd location could see 30-40mm in 2-3 hours. This may lead to some localised flooding and travel disruption across parts of central Scotland. The heaviest showers may be accompanied by thunder but showers will tend to steadily fade through the evening." It adds: "Rain followed by slow-moving, heavy showers may lead to some temporary flooding in places."
Temperatures Return to Average Before Heat Returns
For the coming week, temperatures have returned to average, bringing largely settled conditions for many before a return of the heat, the Met Office has said. Netweather TV added: "Then next weekend may start to see high pressure system to the southwest of the UK start to extend northeast across the UK, though uncertainty how quickly this may happen, always a risk of further lows with weather systems bringing rain or showers moving in off the Atlantic across the north next weekend and into the following week too. But if high pressure does start to build from the southwest in a more sustained way, then we will start to see temperatures on the rise across the south from next weekend. Possibly another heatwave developing the following week as high pressure builds in strongly over the UK, but as mentioned already, not certainty on this yet. So watch this space."
