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| Flood warnings and storms to temper UK heatwave - Met Office | Flood warnings and storms to temper UK heatwave - Met Office |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Storms and flash flooding could hit many parts of England and Wales in the next 24 hours, forecasters are warning. | Storms and flash flooding could hit many parts of England and Wales in the next 24 hours, forecasters are warning. |
| An amber "be prepared" warning for heavy and thundery showers has been issued by the Met Office. | An amber "be prepared" warning for heavy and thundery showers has been issued by the Met Office. |
| The Environment Agency has 54 flood alerts across parts of England, and is warning of intense downfalls of rain. | |
| It comes after much of the country saw sunshine and hot weather on Friday, with temperatures in Gravesend, Kent, reaching 32.3C (90F), a high for 2014. | It comes after much of the country saw sunshine and hot weather on Friday, with temperatures in Gravesend, Kent, reaching 32.3C (90F), a high for 2014. |
| 'Torrential downpours' | 'Torrential downpours' |
| The Met Office has also issued a yellow heat-health warning for southern and eastern England and the Midlands, meaning "alert and readiness". | The Met Office has also issued a yellow heat-health warning for southern and eastern England and the Midlands, meaning "alert and readiness". |
| Overnight, the first floor and roof of a house in Sittingbourne, Kent, was set alight by a lightning strike and a bungalow's roof was hit in Whitstable. | Overnight, the first floor and roof of a house in Sittingbourne, Kent, was set alight by a lightning strike and a bungalow's roof was hit in Whitstable. |
| Houses were struck in the market village of Lenham, near Maidstone, while lightning started several small fires in Willesborough, near Ashford. | |
| The roof collapsed on a detached house in Chelmsford after it was struck by lightning. Essex Fire and Rescue Service said there were no reported casualties. | |
| Twenty-seven patients on the cardiology ward at the Royal United Hospital in Bath had to be moved to other parts of the hospital after heavy rain brought down part of a ceiling. | |
| Manchester Airport said an electrical surge caused by thunderstorms had caused some delays. | Manchester Airport said an electrical surge caused by thunderstorms had caused some delays. |
| General duty manager Gary Brown said: "It impacted on some lifts and baggage systems but most systems are now back up and running. We'll wait to see what happens this afternoon when we're expecting thunder." | General duty manager Gary Brown said: "It impacted on some lifts and baggage systems but most systems are now back up and running. We'll wait to see what happens this afternoon when we're expecting thunder." |
| The Met Office amber warning is in effect for most parts of England and Wales, except for the far north, west and eastern regions. | The Met Office amber warning is in effect for most parts of England and Wales, except for the far north, west and eastern regions. |
| But all other parts of the UK, except for the north of Scotland and Northern Ireland, are subject to a yellow "be aware" warning for rain. | But all other parts of the UK, except for the north of Scotland and Northern Ireland, are subject to a yellow "be aware" warning for rain. |
| The Met Office says a very warm and humid air mass across the UK will become "increasingly unstable", leading to more intense thunderstorms. | The Met Office says a very warm and humid air mass across the UK will become "increasingly unstable", leading to more intense thunderstorms. |
| Several areas saw rain on Friday night and the wet weather will begin to move northwards during the day, it adds. | Several areas saw rain on Friday night and the wet weather will begin to move northwards during the day, it adds. |
| Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: "We're expecting heavy thundery showers through the weekend with the potential for torrential downpours, large hail, frequent lightning and locally strong gusts. | Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: "We're expecting heavy thundery showers through the weekend with the potential for torrential downpours, large hail, frequent lightning and locally strong gusts. |
| "Not everywhere will see thunderstorms but where they do form we could see significant rainfall in a short space of time, which could cause localised flooding." | "Not everywhere will see thunderstorms but where they do form we could see significant rainfall in a short space of time, which could cause localised flooding." |
| 'Very humid' | 'Very humid' |
| The yellow heat-health alert is triggered when there is a 60% or more chance of heatwave conditions. | The yellow heat-health alert is triggered when there is a 60% or more chance of heatwave conditions. |
| The Met Office said: "Heavy thunderstorms in eastern areas on Saturday will lead to slightly lower maximum temperatures, but it will still be very humid." | The Met Office said: "Heavy thunderstorms in eastern areas on Saturday will lead to slightly lower maximum temperatures, but it will still be very humid." |
| The Environment Agency, meanwhile, predicts that 30mm (1.2in) of rain could fall in an hour in some areas during the downpours. | The Environment Agency, meanwhile, predicts that 30mm (1.2in) of rain could fall in an hour in some areas during the downpours. |
| Environment minister Dan Rogerson said the agency was working closely with local authorities to prepare for any flooding. | Environment minister Dan Rogerson said the agency was working closely with local authorities to prepare for any flooding. |
| 'Particular risk' | 'Particular risk' |
| The Open golf championship at Hoylake on Merseyside will use a two-tee start for the first time in its history because of the risk of thunderstorms. | The Open golf championship at Hoylake on Merseyside will use a two-tee start for the first time in its history because of the risk of thunderstorms. |
| Play will start from both the first and 10th tees to allow for the third round to be completed even if there are delays of up to five hours. | Play will start from both the first and 10th tees to allow for the third round to be completed even if there are delays of up to five hours. |
| The second cricket Test between England and India at Lord's could also be affected, with spectators being warned to expect storm interruptions. | The second cricket Test between England and India at Lord's could also be affected, with spectators being warned to expect storm interruptions. |
| Public Health England (PHE) said the hot weather would continue across much of England this weekend and is urging people to keep up to date with weather forecasts. | Public Health England (PHE) said the hot weather would continue across much of England this weekend and is urging people to keep up to date with weather forecasts. |
| PHE director for health protection Dr Paul Cosford said: "Prolonged heat poses a particular risk to the old, young and those with heart and lung conditions, who may feel the effects of hot weather more acutely than others. | PHE director for health protection Dr Paul Cosford said: "Prolonged heat poses a particular risk to the old, young and those with heart and lung conditions, who may feel the effects of hot weather more acutely than others. |
| "Heat-health warnings are worth repeating and although rain is forecast for the weekend it also will remain very warm in a number of places." | "Heat-health warnings are worth repeating and although rain is forecast for the weekend it also will remain very warm in a number of places." |
| The sweltering temperatures that ended the week came after lightning struck the UK more than 3,000 times in the early hours of Friday. | The sweltering temperatures that ended the week came after lightning struck the UK more than 3,000 times in the early hours of Friday. |
| If you are affected by the storms, you can get in touch by emailing talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk. Please include the term 'Storms' in the subject line of your message. | If you are affected by the storms, you can get in touch by emailing talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk. Please include the term 'Storms' in the subject line of your message. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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