THE HEAT IS ON!
HOTTEST DAY IN SEPTEMBER FOR 110 YEARS BUT STORMS ON THE WAY
LEICESTERSHIRE baked in unseasonal temperatures of up to 29C yesterday – but forecasters have warned it is not going to last and thunderstorms are on the way.
The unexpected warm snap saw the mercury rise to the highest level since September 1911 and brought crowds to the county’s parks and attractions, including Leicester’s Victoria Park and Bradgate Park.
But the Met Office has now issued a yellow alert for lightning and heavy rain for the county tomorrow, which has the potential to lead to localised flooding and disruption to travel in some areas.
County weatherman Phil Morrish has been monitoring conditions from his Mountsorrel weather station.
He said: “(On Tuesday) we reached 29.5C, that’s the warmest September day in Leicestershire since 1911.
“Air is coming up from Africa at the moment and we should have similar temperatures on Wednesday – possibly even hotter at 30C.
“However, the cooler air coming in from the Atlantic on Thursday will meet the warm air currently sitting over us, which will produce some thunderstorms.”
Thursday’s weather warning will last from 11am until 8pm.
The Met Office is urging residents and businesses in the area to prepare for travel disruption, and the potential for flooding and lightning strikes.
Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist for the national forecaster, said: “The hot and clear weather currently being experienced across large parts of the UK is forecast to break down through the middle of the week as showers and thunderstorms arrive.
“These will initially affect the southwest of the UK on Wednesday, before moving steadily north and developing across most areas through Thursday and Friday.”
He added: “Thunderstorm warnings have been issued across a number of areas to highlight the potential for isolated impacts, including surface water flooding of homes and businesses, disruption to transport, and very isolated damage to infrastructure from lightning or hail.
“The semi-random nature of showers and thunderstorms means that many places will not see any thunderstorms at all, so it’s not possible at this range to be more precise about the locations at risk, or indeed be more confident about the potential for impacts.”