UK weather: Brits brace for thunderstorms and heavy rain ahead of frosty nights and SNOW in parts as temperatures plunge

FRESH weather warnings for thunderstorms have been issued as Storm Kirk just misses the UK – but brings with it frost and snow to parts of the country.

Brits are bracing themselves for the coming cold air and downpours as the ex-hurricane passes just south of the country.

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Travel might be disrupted along with flooding risks[/caption]

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In some areas there may even be hailstorms[/caption]

There are plenty of heavy showers across the UK, especially sweeping through the south east of England.

Northern Scotland appears to be avoiding the rainfall but may be subjected to strong winds and a bitter chill setting in shortly.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms in the south east until 10pm today.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said over the next couple of days “colder air is coming.”

Deakin said: We’ve got the northerly winds setting in here – a sign of things to come.”

Temperatures just remain in the double digits despite the downpours, around 11 or 12C, whilst areas in southern England are even getting into the high teens.

Those down south are facing intermittent sunshine, bumping the temperature up to 19 degrees.

It looks like there will be patches of heavy rain and strong winds that may even threaten hail and thunderstorms spreading from the southwest.

It looks like this will develop over land, during the morning, lasting through the afternoon and into the evening.

Some areas will remain unaffected but others might face 20-30 mm of rain within 2-3 hours – some even 40-50 mm over a longer period.

Many of these areas have been given a yellow weather warning which means there could be disruption to travel.

This means vehicles could be affected by spray, flooding or hail which could lead to longer and more dangerous journeys.

Public transport might be delayed and buildings may be subject to damage from lightening strikes.

Deakin added: “As yo you go through to this evening the however, if anything, are becoming more widespread.

“So again, some very heavy downpours around – not a great evening rush hour at all.”

Hail and lightning will be additional hazards, with a risk of temporary hail accumulations in places.

In addition, heavy showers and thunderstorms will be associated with strong and gusty winds in the south of the warning area at times with 40mph gusts possible.

As the cold weather kicks in on Thursday, Scotland will be the first to get a winter experience with freezing temperature on the way and maybe even snow.

Facing an arctic blast towards the end of the week, Scotland could get a layer of snow on it’s highest mountains.

Temperatures of will stay above 10C during the daytime but there will be frosty spells throughout the night time especially in the northern territories.

Hurricane Kirk is losing it’s tropical energy and has been named storm Kirk by the French weather service as it travels through Europe.

It’s current path suggests it will miss the UK but could cause trouble in other regions.

Deakin said: “It’s really the central southern parts of France that will bear the brunt but also the north of Spain too.

“There are potential for some damaging gusts of winds across parts of France.”

In its long-range forecast over the following week the Met Office said there will be a period of “unsettled” weather with “frequent bouts of wind and rain associated with areas of low pressure.”

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Weather warnings mention hail and lightening as additional hazards[/caption]

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The downpours will continue for the rest of the week[/caption]