The Met Office thunderstorm warning covering the North East has been revised this morning, shrinking the affected zone, but if you’re in Darlington or Teesside, you’re still on alert until 1pm today.
Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland have all been removed from the warning area following an update. The five areas that remain covered are Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees.
What the Met Office thunderstorm warning means for you
The Met Office states: ‘Heavy showers and some thunderstorms are expected to continue across northern England and north Wales this morning before easing this afternoon. These are likely to bring 15 to 20mm in less than an hour in a few places, with 30-40mm possible over several hours.’
Those accumulations could cause localised flooding. On top of the rain itself, the Met Office flags lightning and hail as additional hazards.
For anyone driving in the affected areas, the Met Office warns that spray, standing water and hail could hit journey times by car and bus. Train delays are possible too. A small number of homes and businesses face a chance of flooding, and there is a risk of structural damage and short-term power loss from lightning strikes.
The yellow alert has been in place since 7pm on 19 August, according to Express.co.uk. The Met Office also issued yellow thunderstorm warnings for parts of England and Wales covering Wednesday and Thursday as warm, humid conditions gave way to heavy rain.
Why the ground is making flooding worse
The torrential rain is landing on some seriously parched ground. According to the BBC, the downpours follow almost two months of dry weather, with parts of the country seeing their first rain in weeks on Tuesday. That context matters: hard, baked ground drains far more slowly, which raises the risk of flash flooding even from rainfall totals that would normally soak away quickly.
The shift is stark. Last week brought a heatwave across the North East; this week commuters turned up to work soaked after packing away their rain gear for the summer. If you’ve been on a run or a ride this morning in the Teesside area, you’ll have felt exactly how quickly conditions changed.
The Met Office is urging people in the remaining warning zones to check whether their location is at particular risk of flash flooding given the ground conditions.
Safety steps if you’re caught out
If you’re heading outside in the warning area before 1pm, keep the following in mind. The Met Office advises finding a safe enclosed shelter, such as a car, if you hear thunder. Do not shelter under or near trees or structures that could attract a lightning strike, and move to lower ground where possible.
On the off chance of a power cut, the Met Office recommends getting a torch and spare batteries ready, along with a mobile phone power pack and other essentials. It’s a straightforward precaution that takes two minutes and could save a lot of hassle if the lights go out.
The Met Office thunderstorm warning remains active until 1pm today for Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees. Check the Met Office website for any further revisions before heading out.