CHESTER and surrounding areas could see thunderstorms this weekend, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning this morning (Thursday, September 19).

The warning, which comes into force from 1am on Saturday (September 21) until midnight, states that whilst some places will remain dry, there is a chance that thunderstorms and heavy showers could cause disruption.

The alert spans much of the west of the UK, including the Southwest of England, the whole of Wales, and much of the Midlands, it ranges as far north as Liverpool and as far east as Peterborough.

Saturday’s forecast is otherwise relatively mild, with temperatures likely to reach the low twenties and wind gusts at around 26mph. There is a 40 percent chance of rain between 7pm and midnight.

However, if thunderstorms do descend, the Met Office is warning people to expect the following:

  • Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures
  • 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
  • There is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost
  • 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
  • There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life

There could be 20-40mm of rainfall in less than an hour in areas where thunderstorms do occur, and there is a small chance of isolated accumulations of 50-70mm of the course of a few hours.

In addition, hail and frequent lightning may accompany the most intense storms, especially during Saturday afternoon and evening however these are likely to be confined to parts of the Midlands, southern England and east Wales.