12/07/2024 – Weather in Cornwall – Yellow Weather Warning For Thunderstorm

Published On: 12 July 2024Last Updated: 12 July 2024By CornishStuff

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, with potential life-threatening conditions expected from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM today. Slow-moving thunderstorms and torrential downpours are likely to cause significant disruption to travel and infrastructure.

What to Expect

The Met Office has warned that the weather could lead to:

Difficult Driving Conditions: Spray and sudden flooding may result in road closures and hazardous driving conditions.
Travel Disruptions: Flooding or lightning strikes might cause delays and cancellations to train and bus services.
Power Cuts: There’s a slight chance of power outages affecting homes and businesses.
Property Damage: Some homes and businesses could face rapid flooding, with potential damage from floodwater, lightning, hail, or strong winds.
Danger to Life: Fast-flowing or deep floodwaters pose a small but real threat to life.

Detailed Forecast

While many areas might experience minimal rainfall or stay dry, scattered showers are predicted to become heavy and slow-moving from early this afternoon. Some locations may witness torrential downpours, with rainfall reaching 15-30 mm within an hour and potentially 40-60 mm over several hours. Hail and lightning are additional threats. Showers are expected to gradually diminish during the evening.

Preparation Tips

For Flash Flooding:

Assess if your area is prone to flash flooding and prepare a flood plan and emergency kit accordingly.

Protecting Property and People:

Secure movable objects and temporary structures like bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, gazebos, sheds, and fences before the winds arrive.

Travel Plans:

Check road conditions, bus and train timetables, and adjust your travel plans if necessary to avoid delays.

Power Cuts:

Prepare for potential power outages by gathering torches, batteries, a mobile phone power pack, and other essentials.

Outdoor Safety:

If you hear thunder while outside, find a safe, enclosed shelter, such as a car. Avoid sheltering under trees or other structures that could be struck by lightning. Move to lower ground if you are in an elevated area.

Stay Informed

The Met Office advises staying updated with local weather forecasts as warnings may change quickly.

Why a Yellow Warning?

This yellow warning signifies a very low likelihood but a medium impact, indicating the potential for serious consequences even if the likelihood of occurrence is low.

Stay vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and minimise disruption during this period of adverse weather conditions.

South West England weather forecast

Headline:

Heavy showers developing in the afternoon.

Today:

Cloudy to start with some patchy rain. Sunnier spells into the afternoon with heavy, possibly further showers affecting Devon and Cornwall, drier further east. Feeling cooler. Maximum temperature 19 °C.

Tonight:

A few heavy showers continuing this evening before easing. Cloudy at times overnight with patchy rain, though most places staying dry. Minimum temperature 8 °C.

Saturday:

A mixture of sunny spells and slow-moving showers, these heavy at times. Light winds and still feeling rather cool for the time of year, but pleasant in any sunny breaks. Maximum temperature 21 °C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Drier and warmer on Sunday with the odd shower, easing by the evening. Heavy showery rain arriving on Monday. Sunny spells and a few showers on Tuesday.

Updated: 05:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 12 Jul 2024