UK weather: Warnings issued over strong winds and thunderstorms - BBC

By Andre Rhoden-Paul & Megan Fisher

BBC News

Severe weather warnings have been issued over strong winds and thunderstorms forecast in the UK.

Gusts could reach over 60mph in the most exposed parts of the southern England coast, the Met Office said.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected in central and south-east England and Wales, with some locations facing 40mm of rain within a few hours.

The bad weather is being caused by an unseasonal deep area of low pressure for this time of year.

In central and south-east England and Wales, there is a yellow severe weather warning for thunderstorms from 09:00 to 20:00, with the possibility of some flooding.

Meanwhile, in parts of north-east England, a yellow severe weather warning has been issued for heavy rain and is in place from 11:00 and 20:00.

The Environment Agency has issued alerts warning flooding is possible in 19 areas across the country.

The wet weather has been bad news for holidaymakers enjoying the school holidays.

Lisa Vickery, owner of MacDonald's Farm in Porthcothan, told BBC Radio Cornwall "quite a few" campers had left due to heavy rain, or cancelled at the last minute.

"I think everyone wakes up praying that today's going to be a dry day, but we've never seen weather like this in the four years we've been here," she said.

"Whether that will mean next year they might rethink coming down here for their summer holiday and go abroad, we could see next year this has an impact."

In West Sussex, people on Worthing's beachfront told the BBC that the weather was "dreadful".

Clair McKinney-Williams said the rain was so strong that it was coming into her cafe, forcing her to close early.

Farmers told the BBC that they are worried about how the weather will impact their crops.

Robin Milton, a farmer in north Devon, said that oats which were a "nice, level, even crop" a fortnight ago are now spoiled and rotting from the rain.

"We're seeing a climate now that's showing extremes, rather than a more seasonal pattern that we became used to."

David Chugg of the National Farmers Union told the BBC that this season could be a "write-off" with crops deteriorating so quickly.

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Jo Rogers said her family were trying to make the best of their holiday at the campsite.

She said: "I think it's more a case of survival now, trying to make it nice for the kids, finding good things to do, running into the tent when it rains again."

Meanwhile on the Isle of Wight, Cowes Week - the world's largest sailing regatta - cancelled all races on Wednesday due to the high winds forecast.

In Redcar, North Yorkshire, horse racing has been abandoned due to the weather. Hastings Pier has been closed due to winds.

BBC Weather meteorologist Darren Bett said the unseasonably wet and windy weather in the UK was due to an area of low pressure bringing wind and rain.

He said: "It's going to be windy through the English Channel, the south coast of England, with strong to gale force winds, although the winds will tend to ease down late in the afternoon. We're also seeing clusters of heavy and thundery downpours developing in England and Wales."

It should become drier in England and Wales as we move into the night, with the strong, gusty winds starting to change direction and the rain and thunderstorms move away, he added.

The French Meteorological Department has given the storm a name - Patricia - because of the impact it is likely to have in the Brest peninsula and in Brittany, BBC Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood explained.

"We had a supermoon last night, high tides and strong winds whipping up waves for France. We're likely to see some issues with coastal flooding," she said.

As for Thursday, Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said the low pressure will pull away eastwards from the UK during Wednesday evening and night, making for a calmer Thursday - although heavy showers could persist.

People sheltering from rain whilst punting

Slow traffic in heavy rain on the M62 near Brighouse in West Yorkshire

The RAC has warned motorists to slow down during challenging driving conditions.

Rod Dennis, a spokesperson for the RAC, said: "Drivers attempting to drive through patches of standing water risk losing control, so the best course of action is to slow down and carefully avoid them whenever possible.

"As the wind will be especially strong along southern coasts, drivers towing caravans will need to be cautious, while those carrying items on the roof should make sure these are properly secured."

Birmingham Airport, airline Jet 2 and train companies Avanti West coast, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway said their services were unaffected by the weather.

Wightlink, which runs ferries across The Solent between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said their service was running normally.