Heavy showers, hail and thunder forecast to hit UK

Heavy showers, hail, and thunderstorms are expected to hit the UK just days after experiencing the warmest spring equinox in over 50 years.

On Saturday afternoon, torrential rain affected some regions, leading to road closures on parts of the M18 in Yorkshire as specialists worked to remove floodwater, according to National Highways.

The Met Office forecasts a cloudy start to Sunday, with rain in the north and east, while the north-west and south-east will see sunny intervals followed by showers. Temperatures will remain above average, reaching 15°C in London, 12°C in Birmingham, and 11°C in Manchester.

A Met Office spokesperson stated: "Heavy showers have formed across eastern England this afternoon, accompanied by hail and thunder. Parts of London and the East Midlands continue to experience intense downpours, with some areas receiving 10-15mm of rainfall in under an hour."

On Thursday, the UK recorded its warmest spring equinox since 1972, with temperatures reaching 21.3°C in Northolt, west London, and Chertsey, Surrey.

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey explained that such intense storms are uncommon at this time of year. He attributed them to the recent spell of warm weather, which has resulted in temperatures significantly above the seasonal average.

"In recent days, temperatures have exceeded 20°C, with today’s high reaching 18.5°C—well above the expected 10-11°C for this time of year," said Vautrey.

He explained that the unusually warm conditions have contributed to the formation of thunderstorms, with a significant amount of moisture being drawn in due to a low-pressure system moving across the UK.

Vautrey also noted that the climate crisis is driving temperature extremes higher. "We are consistently seeing warmer temperatures earlier in the year than usual," he said.

"As a result, these intense summer-like storms are becoming more frequent throughout the year, as the rising temperatures create the right conditions for their development."

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts for 20 areas across the country, including Henley, Salisbury, and Hertfordshire.

The Met Office has advised travelers to exercise caution, warning that localized flooding could occur in some areas.