Met Office issues urgent thunderstorm warning for everyone outdoors from 4pm

The UK's weather will take a turn for the worse this afternoon as the Met Office issued a new warning for heavy rain, strong winds, hail and lightning for parts of the country, with buildings at risk

The UK braces for a thunderous start to the week as the Met Office issues a warning of a significant southern downpour. Forecasters have put out an alert today anticipating that the country will be drenched by showers, which will deliver inches of rainfall and could be accompanied by hail and strong gusts of wind.

Communities, especially along the southern coast of England and Wales, are expected to experience intense rain from late this afternoon into the night.

The warning details: "Areas of heavy showers and thunderstorms will move northwards across southern parts of England and Wales later Monday, clearing northwards overnight. Some places will see 20 to 30mm of rain within two to three hours, with a small chance that a few places could receive 40mm."

Forecasters also mentioned: "Thunderstorms are most likely for south-facing coastal districts, and hail and some strong gusts of wind could accompany the heaviest showers and thunderstorms."

The alert, effective from 4pm to 11.59pm tonight, raises concerns for a host of hazards, particularly affecting those travelling during the evening rush hour, suggesting severe disruption, reports the Mirror.

According to the Met Office, it’s highly probable travellers on the road "will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus". Rail networks might also endure delays.

In addition, it warned of potential floods in homes and businesses as well as short-term power losses and interruptions in services. Hail and gusty winds could damage "a few buildings", accompanied by lightning strikes for those in storm-prone coastal regions, typifying the dismal start to autumn 2024, characterised largely by overcast and damp episodes. Temperatures have dipped in line with the rainfall.

The Met Office’s long-range forecast from October 11 to October 20 indicates a steady persistence of these wintry conditions as we approach mid-October, with some areas expecting their initial frost of winter 2024 along with "wintry showers".

The forecast elaborates: "A colder interlude across all areas of the UK as northerly winds push south bringing showers, these wintry across hills in the north. Perhaps a more organised spell of rain and stronger winds across Scotland especially as we head into the weekend, meanwhile southern areas are likely to see much drier conditions than of late with some sunshine by day.

"Temperatures below average, especially in the north with some overnight frost possible along with some patchy mist and fog. Later in the weekend likely to turn more unsettled once more with outbreaks of rain and some stronger winds expected to return to the northwest of the UK especially, although the southeast may well hang on to drier conditions throughout."