Why DO thunderstorms occur after hot weather? Heatwaves cause an unstable atmosphere that triggers thunder and lightning, Met Office explains – as it issues yellow warning for storms this afternoon
- Met Office issues yellow storm warning following record temperatures in the UK
- More heat on the ground leads to higher likelihood of thunderstorms occurring
- Britain has only just experienced the hottest day in recorded history on Tuesday
After enduring two days of record-breaking temperatures, Brits are now having to brace for an onslaught of thunderstorms and possibly even flooding.
The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for much of southeast England from this afternoon, including London, East Anglia and the East Midlands.
A yellow storm warning means the weather will cause some ‘low level impacts’, including road closures and possible train cancellations.
Britain has only just experienced the hottest day in recorded history this week, with temperatures pushing past 104°F (40°C) for the first time.
Yesterday, Met Office registered a provisional reading of 40.3°C (104.5°F) at Coningsby in Lincolnshire at 3pm – a record high.
Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms in much of southern England on Wednesday afternoon and evening
WHAT IS A YELLOW WARNING?
On Wednesday, the Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms in much of southern England this afternoon and evening.
The Met Office issues colour-coded weather warnings when severe weather has the potential to impact people in the UK.
A yellow storm warning means the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel in a few places.
What to expect:
– Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and road closures
– Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services
– A slight chance that power cuts could occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost
Overall, Wednesday will be cooler – around 25°C in many locations – but accompanied by thunder, lightning and heavy showers, which could result in flooding.
Members of the public have already captured some stunning photos of thunderstorms that took place throughout Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
But a yellow warning means storms could cause ‘low level impacts’, starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting into the evening.
Thunderstorms tend to occur after hot weather, such as an extreme heatwave, because the atmosphere is ‘unstable’, according to the Met Office.
It defines an unstable atmosphere as when warm air exists underneath much colder air, as is the case directly after a heatwave when there’s much heat near the ground.
Warm air naturally rises, and as it does so, it cools and condenses, forming small droplets of water and a dense, towering vertical cloud called a Cumulonimbus cloud.
As the warm air continues to rise, the water droplets combine to create larger droplets which freeze to form ice crystals.
‘As a result of circulating air in the clouds, water freezes on the surface of the droplet or crystal,’ the Met Office explains.
‘Eventually, the droplets become too heavy to be supported by the updraughts of air and they fall as hail.
‘As hail moves within the cloud, it picks up a negative charge by rubbing against smaller positively charged ice crystals.
‘A negative charge forms at the base of the cloud where the hail collects, while the lighter ice crystals remain near the top of the cloud and create a positive charge.
‘The negative charge is attracted to the Earth’s surface and other clouds and objects.
‘When the attraction becomes too strong, the positive and negative charges come together, or discharge, to balance the difference in a flash of lightning, sometimes known as a lightning strike or lightning bolt.’
It’s the rapid expansion and heating of air caused by lightning produces the accompanying loud clap of thunder.
We hear this clap comes seconds after the flash of lightning for the simple reason that light travels faster than sound.
Warm air naturally rises, and as it does so, it cools and condenses, forming small droplets of water and a dense, towering vertical cloud called a Cumulonimbus cloud (pictured)
In the UK thunderstorms are most common over the East Midlands and the southeast, but they’re a common occurrence globally.
They are most common in areas of the globe where the weather is hot and humid, such as the southeastern US states, including Florida.
Met Office also lists ways to stay safe during thunderstorms, as a strike of lightning can be fatal.
If stranded outside, people should avoid water and find a low-lying open place that is a safe distance from trees, poles or metal objects.
If in your car, wind up the windows and stay inside, because the metal frame will act as a conductive cage, passing the current around the passengers inside and on to the ground.
Drivers should also keep their speed down when possible, as this will lower the distance you travel when buffeted around by the wind.
‘Vulnerable’ road users, including cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians – should also be given more room than usual as they’re more likely to be blown around.
It’s also a myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice – it often does, especially if it’s a tall and isolated object, like the Empire State Building.
Met Office says: ‘Lightning strikes the best conductor on the ground whether it has been struck before or not.’
LONDON’S BURNING! HOW WILDFIRES START AND HOW TO PUT THEM OUT – AS BLAZES BREAK OUT ACROSS BRITAIN AMID THE HEATWAVE
Countries across Europe – including Britain – are battling against a swathe of catastrophic wildfires that are breaking out due to the current heatwave.
Wildfires have been starting all across southern Europe including in Spain, Italy, France and southern England.
In the UK, the London Fire Brigade declared a ‘major incident’ on Tuesday in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital.
Around 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters alone are dealing with a vicious blaze in the Essex village of Wennington that’s destroyed entire houses.
Amid the surge in wildfires, MailOnline has delved into how the blazes start – and how they can be put out.
Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies, although the term is increasingly being used for spontaneous fires in built-up areas too.
They require three key components to ignite and eventually spread – fuel, heat and oxygen.
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