UK weather: Met Office warns ‘torrential downpours’ & sudden floods will spark chaos as drivers battle WEEK of closures

THE Met Office has warned “torrential downpours” and sudden floods will spark chaos – as drivers battle a week of closures.

Three yellow thunderstorm warnings are in force across swathes of the UK today.

LNP

Dog walkers on Wimbledon Common in south west London yesterday[/caption]

Jordan Crosby

A stranded car in Wynyard, County Durham on Sunday[/caption]

Met Office

A fresh salvo of thunderstorms will hit the UK today[/caption]

One of the warnings will cover East Anglia, the East Midlands and the north until 7pm.

Another will be in place for Cumbria, Northumberland and southern Scotland from 3pm until midnight.

A third warning is also be in force until midnight for much of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office said: “Heavy showers and thunderstorms may bring torrential downpours causing travel disruption and flooding.”

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

There are already closures on the M4 as work continues on the westbound motorway.

Stretches of the M62 in Cheshire and Merseyside will also close overnight throughout the week ahead.

Traffic is building on the M5 after a lane closed following a crash this morning.

There is a small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads.

Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.

Power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.

Buildings could be damaged by floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

Fast flowing or deep floodwater could pose a “danger to life”, forecasters said.

Another yellow thunderstorm warning will come into force for eastern and northern Scotland at 10am tomorrow, lasting until 7pm.