Met Office warns Brits in 64 places to expect three devastating impacts of storm

Brits should brace for flooding, power cuts and travel chaos today due to more brutal storms, the Met Office has warned.

Forecasters say Brits in the 64 areas covered by a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms should protect their properties and ensure people are safe. Items like garden furniture, trampolines and sheds should be well-secured because westerly wind speeds could reach 40mph.

These, coupled with heavy rain and thunderstorms, will lead to an unpleasant day with the morning rush hour commute difficult, especially for those across south Wales and the Midlands. Trains and planes may be delayed or even cancelled, forecasters have warned.

Clare Nasir, meteorologist with the Met Office, said: "This cluster of showery rain arrives again from the Southwest of England, and this will bring again some heavy, torrential downpours, strong winds along the coast, even some coastal gales here. That showery rain extends across to more eastern parts as we move through Thursday."

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The weather warning has been issued - since reduced in size - as up to 60mm of rain is expected in some areas. The Met Office says those subject to the alertshould expect;

• Spray and sudden flooding which could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures

• Delays and some cancellations to transport services

• A slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost

In relation to the flooding, the Met Office has added: "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." The most vulnerable regions for flooding include Devon, where there are two active flood alerts; the River Yealm and River Plym and Tory Brook.

But rain will also be heavy across the Midlands. There is particularl concern for the River Sow and River Penk, in and around Wolverhampton and Stafford. The Environment Agency says "flooding of roads and farmland is possible" in areas near the River Sow and River Penk.

The Met Office's website continues: "Bands of heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to move northeast across parts of England and Wales on Thursday. As showers progress northeastward they will become temporarily slow moving, leading to an increased chance of surface water flooding.

"Whilst the vast majority of places will have either non-impactful rain or remain dry, a few places within this area could see 30-60mm in an hour. Hail and lightning will be additional, possibly locally impactful, hazards."

Regions and local authorities affected by Met Office warning

East Midlands

• Derby
• Derbyshire
• Leicester
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottingham
• Nottinghamshire
• Rutland

East of England

• Peterborough

North East England

• Darlington
• Durham
• Hartlepool
• Middlesbrough
• Redcar and Cleveland
• Stockton-on-Tees

North West England

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Cheshire East
• Cheshire West and Chester
• Cumbria
• Greater Manchester
• Halton
• Lancashire
• Merseyside
• Warrington

South West England

• Gloucestershire
• South Gloucestershire

Wales

• Blaenau Gwent
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Cardiff
• Carmarthenshire
• Ceredigion
• Conwy
• Denbighshire
• Flintshire
• Gwynedd
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Newport
• Pembrokeshire
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Swansea
• Torfaen
• Vale of Glamorgan
• Wrexham

West Midlands

• Herefordshire
• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Telford and Wrekin
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands Conurbation
• Worcestershire

Yorkshire & Humber

• East Riding of Yorkshire
• Kingston upon Hull
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire
• York