When are thunderstorms coming to the UK and is it safe to camp?
While parts of the country are still basking in the sun, as the heatwave wages on, others are in for a gloomier fate, as thunderstorms are forecast to start developing from today.
By the middle of the week, most of the country – if the forecasts are anything to go by – will follow suit and weather the storm.
So when are the thunderstorms set to arrive, and for all those currently enjoying the warm weather – is it safe to go camping right now?
Where are the thunderstorms coming in the UK and when?
The Met Office has issued a broad yellow ‘danger to life’ warning covering much of the UK from Monday to Thursday.
It’s not possible to determine just when they could strike though as the weather warnings applied to most of the country state ‘there is significant uncertainty in location and timing.’
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘For England and Wales over the next four days, there is a risk of some very severe weather in places but it is not going to be everywhere.’
Talking specifically about today’s (Monday) weather, he said: ‘The warning does not imply that everyone is going to see them (thunderstorms) – a lot of places will remain dry, sunny and hot – but we will see some fairly severe thunderstorms developing over the course of the day.’
The current forecast, at time of writing, states that Monday will see ‘Some sunshine for most and a good deal of dry weather in eastern areas, but some thunderstorms developing, most frequent across western parts of England and for Wales. Southern UK very hot again.’
It is expected this evening will be warm for most areas, especially in the south.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), the warm weather is expected to continue and scattered thunderstorms will once again develop.
From Wednesday to Friday, the weather is forecast to be ‘very warm and humid with some heavy showers and thunderstorms for many parts’ before the temperature cools on Friday.
So maybe tie your hair up towards the tail end of the week and pack a brolly.
Is it safe to go camping during a thunderstorm?
It is not advised to camp in the open ground directly under a storm – not only does your tent not provide ample protection, but the metal poles could attract lighting.
So if you find yourself camping during a storm, you are best to get out of your tent.
If you are able to take shelter in your car or in an indoor space – such as a pub or restaurant, or even toilet blocks – you should go there until the storm passes.
While the risk of getting struck by lightening is low, it is not a risk worth taking.
Before going camping, it’s always recommended to thoroughly check the forecast and assess any risks – for example, if there is likely to be flooding, or will you be able to take shelter elsewhere if necessary?
Whether or not your tent can withstand strong winds and rain will depend on how sturdy it is – many tents have waterproof ratings which indicate, well, just how waterproof they are.
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