The Met Office has expanded its Sunday thunderstorm warning – meaning millions more Brits must prepare for disruption, damage, and the risk of power cuts.
Earlier, the forecaster had only issued the warning for the East of England, East Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber.
But an updated map reveals London and the South-East must also brace for the extreme weather.
Thunderstorms are set to batter parts of the UK on Sunday before a potential third heatwave later in the week, the forecaster said.
According to the weather service, there is a mixed forecast for Sunday and Monday before temperatures are expected to climb back into the low 30Cs by the end of next week – raising the possibility of a third heatwave this summer.
Parts of East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the East of England are set for heavy rain, lightning and hail on Sunday, which could cause disruption to transport links.
The rest of the country is also forecast to experience cooler air, cloud and showery spells for the rest of the weekend and early next week, before temperatures begin to rise again.
The Met office has expanded its Sunday thunderstorm warning – meaning millions more Brits must prepare for disruption, damage and the risk of power cuts
Commuters battle their way through a storm taking place over Southwark, London on June 5, 2025
Earlier the forecaster had only issued the warning for the East of England, East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber
Marco Petagna, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘The headline is a changeable theme to the next couple of days and then the weather will become more settled as we go into next week.
‘It could well reach heatwave criteria again across England and Wales towards the end of next week.
‘In the short term, it’s quite a mixed picture. There’s a lot of cloud around, and bits and pieces of showery rain around.
‘Across the East of England, the weather could turn heavy and thundery and there’s a warning out for thunderstorms between 7am to 7pm, because of the unsettled atmosphere.
‘We could see an inch or two of rain and several thunderstorms there on Sunday, and that showery scene continues into Monday as well, especially in the north and east of the UK.’
The Met Office said the cooler conditions are set to subside, with much of the country seeing more settled weather moving further into next week.
And temperatures rising could lead to a third heatwave – a period of three or more consecutive days of temperatures higher than a location-based threshold – this summer.
A runner braves the rain during a storm on The Queen’s Walk in London with the city’s skyline behind her
The yellow weather warning will be in effect for 12 hours between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, July 6
But Mr Petagna said it is difficult to predict the duration of the hot weather.
He said: ‘It looks like we will meet heatwave criteria again by the end of the week.
‘The main uncertainty is how warm it does become and how long the increase in temperature lasts for.
‘The trend to warmer weather, particularly across England and Wales, certainly looks pretty good going into the week ahead.
‘It will start to feel a bit more humid in the week ahead and also night-time temperatures are going to start to pick up, so it’s going to become more uncomfortable for sleeping.’
Earlier, the Met Office issued a yellow warning alongside a map revealing the areas facing lightning and flooding.
The yellow warning was originally only activated for the East of England, East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber.
It is in effect for 12 hours between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, July 6.
The weather agency also warned that hail, flooding and lightning strikes were possible in these areas that will result in damage to some buildings.
Specific areas originally set to be impacted by the adverse weather conditions include Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough, Suffolk, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.
It is likely that thunderstorms will cause widespread travel disruption with the Met Office saying there is ‘a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus.’
Locals have also been told to expect delays to train services.
Parts of eastern England are to expect a downpour of 15-25 millimetres of rain which may lead to flooding of homes and businesses.
Power cuts are also said to be ‘likely’.
The Met Office took to its social media accounts to say: ‘Yellow weather warning issued.
‘Thunderstorms across parts of eastern England Sunday 0700 – 1900.
‘Stay weather aware.’
On their website, they went into more detail, explaining that thunderstorms ‘may lead to some disruption to travel and outdoor activities.’
‘There is a good chance driving conditions will be affected by spray, standing water and/or hail, leading to longer journey times by car and bus,’ the website warned.
‘Some flooding of a few homes and businesses possible, leading to some damage to buildings or structures. Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes.
Tourists attempt to deal with the heat in Barcelona on June 28 as a new Spanish high temperature record for June of 46C is confirmed
Tourists look for shade on a hot summer day in Venice as Europeans have been warned to stay indoors as the continent goes on high alert for extreme 47C heat
Festivalgoers relax in the sun at the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Far
‘Some short term loss of power and other services is likely,’ and finally, ‘delays to train services are possible.’
It comes after the UK experienced several bouts of hot weather in recent weeks which posed a ‘risk to life’, according to the weather agency.
Sunseekers basked in searing 34.7C in St James’s Park, London, on July 1 as the UK saw its hottest day of the year reached.
Elsewhere across England, the seaside counties of Essex and Kent well surpassed 33C – a red-hot 34.4C being recorded in Writtle – which also almost nearly broke the hottest-ever July 1 on record.
Those temperatures marked the end of a scorching heatwave that saw an amber alert deployed, which the Met Office say signals a ‘potential risk to life and property’.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had activated a five-day warning starting on Friday due to concerns that there could be ‘a rise in deaths, particularly among those ages 65 and over or with health conditions’.
A festivalgoer holds a parasol to shield from the sun alongside a daring umbrella hat
The mercury is set to rise to 36C on Monday in parts of the UK in what could be the hottest June day in record and the highest temperature in nearly three years. Pictured: Central London
The amber heat health alert covered the East Midlands, South East, South West and East of England, alongside Somerset – where Glastonbury was roaring ahead.
Meanwhile, Europeans were warned to stay indoors as the continent goes on high alert for extreme 47C heat.
Indeed, a new Spanish high temperature record for June of 46C was confirmed on June 28 by the AEMET – Spain’s state meteorological agency.
Forest fires and flash floods wrecked chaos across the continent, with warnings of an intense heatwave.
Sweltering infernos melted roads in Italy while raging wildfires tore through Greece.
Two-thirds of Portugal were be on high alert last week for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42C expected in the capital Lisbon.
It was so hot that Sicily and areas of northern Italy banned outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day.
In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 portable fans were distributed to schools to help students cope with the heat.
