Thunderstorm Warning Upgraded to Amber for Norfolk and East of England
The Met Office has upgraded a thunderstorm warning to amber for the east of England, including Norfolk, as heavy rain and strong winds are expected to cause disruption. According to the Met Office, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press, earlier this week, the agency issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms for the entire East of England, which was set to last from 3pm on Friday, June 13, until 6am on Saturday, June 14.
The yellow warning had predicted "a chance" of causing disruption such as road closures, public transport cancellations, and power cuts. However, the Met Office has now upgraded the warning to amber for everywhere east of Cromer, Wymondham, and Diss, from 8pm on Friday until 5am on Saturday. An amber thunderstorm warning is issued when bad flooding, power cuts, road closures, and disruptions to public transport become "likely".
As stated by the Eastern Daily Press, a map of the affected area, provided by the Met Office, shows the regions that will be impacted by the severe weather. The Met Office has warned that torrential downpours could bring 30-50mm of rain, with a chance of even greater accumulations in a few places. The heavy rain, which is expected to fall in a short space of time, brings the risk of surface water flooding.
The Met Office has also warned of large hail, strong and gusty winds, perhaps in excess of 40-50 mph for a short period of time, and frequent lightning. According to a Met Office spokesman, as quoted by the Eastern Daily Press, "Although many places within the warning area may see limited impacts, torrential downpours could bring 30-50mm of rain, with a chance of even greater accumulations in a few places. With much of the rain falling in a short space of time this brings the risk of surface water flooding. Large hail, strong and gusty winds, perhaps in excess of 40-50 mph for a short period of time, and frequent lightning will be additional hazards though again many places will not see this occur."
The upgrade to an amber warning has significant implications for residents and travellers in the affected areas. The Met Office is urging people to be aware of the potential disruption and to take necessary precautions. The Eastern Daily Press reports that Norfolk could be hit by ‘thunder fever’ during storms, highlighting the need for residents to be prepared.
The Met Office has a system of issuing weather warnings to alert the public to potential disruptions. The amber warning is a serious alert that indicates a high risk of disruption. As the Eastern Daily Press notes, the warning is in place from 8pm on Friday until 5am on Saturday, and residents are advised to stay up to date with the latest weather forecast and warnings.
The Met Office provides updates on its website and through its social media channels, and residents are encouraged to check these regularly for the latest information. The Eastern Daily Press will continue to provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available.
