THUNDERSTORMS and flooding have been forecast for the borough as it faces an epic 36-hour weather warning.
The entire south east could be affected by the summer storms, which are due to hit from 6pm on Wednesday all the way through to 6am on Friday morning.
In worst case scenarios, up to two inches of rain could fall in just two hours, and with many rivers and streams across the borough already fairly full due to recent rains there could be localised flooding or persistent lightning.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope that we may escape the worst: the Met Office has said that “many areas will probably miss” the “scattered but potentially intense thundery downpours”.
The current forecast suggests that rain won’t start falling until 9pm on Wednesday, getting heavier as the night goes on.
Thursday is dry with temperatures forecast to hit around 21ºC.
Although the weather warning is in place, no storms are currently forecast.
So if the overall picture is dry, why is the Met Office issuing the stormy weather warning?
The Chief Forecaster’s said: “Increasingly warm and humid air will arrive from France later on Wednesday, bringing with it an increased risk of thunderstorms.
“At this stage, there is still room for error in the northwestward extent of this airmass, and also how widely thunderstorms develop and where. The southeast of the warning area is currently considered most at risk and updates to the warning will be made as new information becomes available.
“30 mm or more could fall in an hour very locally, with 50 mm or more in 2 hours.”
