Heavy rainfall, hail and frequent lightning is expected across large swathes of the UK.

12:27, Thu, Jun 25, 2026 Updated: 12:27, Thu, Jun 25, 2026

Woman walking in heavy rain on Oxford Street, London.

Heavy rainfall, hail and frequent lightning is forecast across the UK tonight (Image: Getty)

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for 106 areas of the UK from midnight on Thursday as heavy rain, hail and winds up to 60mph are forecast.

Two separate yellow warnings for thunderstorms will come into force during Thursday night into Friday morning as the weather turns more unsettled. While Thursday is forecast to be the peak of the heatwave, with heat extending further north today bringing temperatures in the mid-30Cs to parts of northern England and highs of around 38C across the Midlands, southeast Wales and southern England, a change in the weather is expected across large swathes of the UK by tonight.

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The Met Office said a shift in the jet stream will bring an area of lower pressure from the west, introducing more cloud and the potential for rain showers and thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms develop when the hot, humid air becomes unstable, which can lead to heavy downpours, lightning, hail and gusty winds. This changeable weather is expected across parts of England, Wales and Scotland this evening, with two thunderstorm warnings due to come into effect at midnight.

The warning for Scotland will be in force from midnight until 23.59pm on Friday, while the warning for parts of England and Wales will be in effect from midnight until 10am on Friday morning.

The storms are expected to produce sudden, gusty winds of up to 60mph, particularly in the south and west, as well as frequent lightning, hail and heavy rain.

In its forecast for this evening, the Met Office said: “Thunderstorms are expected to move northeastwards across parts of England and Wales during the early hours of Friday, clearing during Friday morning.

“Whilst many areas will miss them, thunderstorms may produce sudden, gusty winds with 50 to 60 mph possible, particularly in the south and west of the warning area. Frequent lightning, hail and heavy rain (possibly 15-20 mm in an hour) are additional hazards.”

The unsettled weather brings a risk of spray and sudden flooding, possible power cuts, travel delays and cancellations to rain and bus services, and potential damage to homes.

Households in the warning areas are advised to prepare for the weather by securing outdoor items, including trampolines, bins, sheds, garden furniture and fences, and gathering torches, batteries, mobile phone power packs and chargers in case of a loss of power.

Warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Scotland, the Met Office said: “Spells of heavy rain and thunderstorms initially over northwest Scotland are likely to become more widespread during Friday morning.

“Further thunderstorms and spells of heavy rain are possible in the afternoon before becoming confined to more northern areas of Scotland later in the day.

“Rainfall amounts will be highly variable but narrow corridors of 20-30 mm falling in 1 hour and potentially 30-50 mm in 3 hours is possible. Frequent lightning, large hail (2-4 cm diameter) and locally gusty winds with stronger storms.”

Listed are the areas of England and Wales covered by a yellow warning for thunderstorms from midnight until 10am on Friday:

London & South East England

  • Hampshire

North East England

  • Darlington

North West England

  • Blackburn with Darwen

  • Cheshire West and Chester

    • South West England

    • Bath and North East Somerset

  • Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole

    • West Midlands

    • Herefordshire

  • West Midlands Conurbation

    • Yorkshire & Humber

    • East Riding of Yorkshire

    Listed are the areas of Scotland covered by a yellow warning for thunderstorms from midnight until 23.59pm on Friday:

    Central, Tayside & Fife

    • Angus

    Highlands & Eilean Siar

    • Na h-Eileanan Siar

    Orkney & Shetland

    • Orkney Islands

    SW Scotland, Lothian Borders

    • Dumfries and Galloway

    Strathclyde

    • Argyll and Bute