Warning: Yellow

To expect: Thunderstorms

Affected areas: Northern Ireland

Start time estimate: Thursday 1pm

End time estimate: Thursday 11pm

The Met Office has announced a Yellow thunderstorm alert for Northern Ireland until Thursday night.

A Yellow weather warning is in effect during Thursday, starting from around 1pm and running until 11pm. Forecasters say the affected region can expect to see frequent lightning strikes and heavy downpours.

The Yellow alert for thunderstorms was issued at 11:24am on Thursday, August 14.

A Met Office forecast said: “A scattering of heavy showers, a few of which could turn thundery, are likely to develop across parts of eastern Northern Ireland this afternoon. Whilst very isolated lightning strikes are possible, the main hazard will come from heavy rain, which could cause flash flooding in a few places. Most places will see 10-20mm, or fewer, falling over the course of an hour or more, but the heaviest showers could deliver up to 40mm in an hour with a small chance that somewhere could see over 50mm through the afternoon.”

What to expect

There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings; Where flooding occurs, there is a chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services; Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures; There is a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater causing danger to life; There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses.

What should you do during intense thunderstorms?

Check if your property could be at risk of flooding. If so, consider preparing a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.

Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.

People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It’s easy to do: consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

For further details see Met Office Warnings & Advice.

What is a yellow weather warning?

The Met Office has three categories of weather warning, depending on the likely impact of severe weather and also how likely it is to strike in a particular area.

A yellow warning is issued when weather conditions are expected to disrupt travel and traffic and may impact on daily routines but are not likely to pose a risk to life or property.

An amber warning is more severe and advises people to think about changing their plans to minimise the risk.

A red warning means weather conditions are expected to be dangerous with widespread damage to property and a risk to life, with the public usually advised to avoid travelling.

The Yellow weather alert for thunderstorms will remain in place until 11pm on Thursday.