Thunderstorms and Potential Disruptions as Storm Debi Clears

Parts of the UK are set to experience intense weather conditions on Tuesday, with a significant amount of rainfall expected. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms affecting southern England, as heavy rain of up to 20mm may fall in just a few hours. The warning is in effect from 5am until midday, covering London, the southeast, and the southwest.

While Storm Debi will clear in the early hours of Tuesday, wet and windy weather is likely to continue, with gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50mph in some areas. This could cause disruptions, including possible lightning strikes, damage to buildings, and short power cuts. Travellers, particularly drivers and those taking public transport, should be prepared for delays due to standing water, spray, and hail.

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna stated that this spell of wet weather is caused by a very active jet stream that has brought a deep area of low pressure over much of the UK. He warned that while the storm will clear, the unsettled conditions will persist for the next week, with only brief periods of sunshine.

Temperatures will remain typical for this time of year, between 9°C and 12°C. The current storm season has already been unusually active, with Storm Debi marking the earliest occurrence of a “D” storm since naming began.

Travel disruptions are also anticipated, with British Airways confirming some flight cancellations due to the bad weather. This disruption is expected to continue as the storm system moves eastwards.