On Friday, the Met Office added yellow storm warnings for most of the UK, starting in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Sunday afternoon and spreading to England and Wales on Monday. Forecasters said the storms were likely to be isolated and heavy, bringing 50mm of rain in some places and a chance of hail and frequent lightning. There is a slight chance of some homes and businesses being flooded quickly, the Met Office warned, “with damage to some buildings from floodwaters, lightning, hail or strong winds”. Jason Kelly, deputy chief meteorologist, said: “We are continuing to monitor how these showers develop on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. There is a chance of some fairly heavy showers at times for some areas and we are working on the likely location of these over the next few days.” The Met Office acknowledged that some parts further south would be grateful for any rain, with England having its driest July since 1935. But it may be the wrong type of rain: “Heavy and torrential rains bring with them the potential for some surface water to flood, fall on dry ground and often not be absorbed.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Extreme heat warnings, which are expected to last throughout the weekend, remained in place, with people being warned about health effects and the risk of fires. In southern parts of England, temperatures were expected to rise as high as 35C. In Dorset on Friday afternoon, fire crews were called to a fire at Studland Heath, the internationally important heathland looked after by the National Trust. “We are dealing with a large fire in Studland,” said Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. “Please avoid the area, especially Ferry Road, and stay away from the heath. We have many devices present.” The Sandbanks ferry service has also been suspended. Mark Hardingham, chairman of the National Council of Fire Chiefs (NFCC), said many of the incidents attended by the services were preventable. “In this heat don’t use a barbecue when you’re outdoors or in local parks. Be careful not to dispose of cigarettes without making sure they are completely extinguished and do not throw in garbage. In these dry conditions, it’s very easy to start a fire and spread quickly.” He also warned against jumping into rivers and lakes, which can still be very cold despite the warm weather. “Jumping in can lead to cold water shock and accidental drowning, regardless of swimming ability,” he said. “Unfortunately, this year we have seen a number of deaths.” Drivers were reminded to check their vehicles and take plenty of water on their journeys, while pet owners were asked to make sure their animals had access to water and shade at all times. “Dogs in particular can overheat easily, so make sure they are not walked or exercised at the hottest times of the day or left in a hot car or nursery for even a short time,” said Justine Shotton, president of British Veterinary Medicine. Union. .
