26/05/2026
⚠️ The Met Office has issued a storm alert for 42 areas in the UK as the nation bakes in a heatwave.
🌩 The forecaster issued a yellow warning for "isolated intense thunderstorms" between 3pm and 10pm today.
It warned Brits to prepare for delays and some cancellations to train and bus services where flooding or lightning strikes happen.
It comes as the UK experienced a “tropical night” on Monday after the country saw its hottest May day on record, which could be broken again on Tuesday with highs of 36C forecasted.
Temperatures did not fall below 21.3C on Monday at Kenley Airfield, south London, as the country broke the record for the warmest May night for the second consecutive day, the Met Office said.
On the Met Office's website, there is a yellow thunderstorm warning issued for 3pm until 10pm today (Tuesday, May 16). The Met Office says isolated intense thunderstorms could bring "disruption" to a few places.
The Met Office also warned there could be a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.
It also warns that spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.
There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds, it adds.
The Met Office says: "If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car). Do not shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area move to lower ground."
It adds that Brits should consider if your location is at risk of flash flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.
It says: "If you find yourself outside and hear thunder, protect yourself by finding a safe enclosed shelter (such as a car). Do not shelter under or near trees, or other structures which may be struck by lightning. If you are on an elevated area move to lower ground."
Full list of areas to be impacted:
Derby
Derbyshire
Leicester
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Rutland
Bedford
Cambridgeshire
Central Bedfordshire
Essex
Hertfordshire
Luton
Peterborough
Suffolk
Buckinghamshire
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire
Reading
West Berkshire
Windsor and Maidenhead
Wokingham
Cheshire East
Bath and North East Somerset
Bristol
Gloucestershire
North Somerset
Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Swindon
Wiltshire
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Warwickshire
West Midlands Conurbation
Worcestershire
South Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
✍ Rebecca Perring, Alycia McNamara
