UK lightning map reveals where strikes are hitting near you as thunderstorms & band of ‘squally’ rain move across nation
A MAP has revealed where lightning has been striking over the past two days amid warnings of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Parts of the UK were hit with countless lightning strikes yesterday as stormy weather dominated northern areas.
Now, the Met Office has also issued a range of yellow weather warnings in force from Friday morning across Northern Ireland, Wales, and parts of Scotland.
The forecaster’s map shows how lightning struck a number of times in Scotland and Northern Ireland on Thursday.
2255 lightning strikes have been recorded by the Met Office over the past 48 hours.
You can check when and where the thousands of strikes landed by going to the Met Office’s website.
This comes as the forecaster warned of heavy rain and major disruption today amid 70mph winds.
Three yellow warnings for wind and two for rain have been issued by the weather agency, affecting large parts of Northern Ireland, the west coast of Wales, and areas of Scotland.
The Met Office has also issued three wind alerts and two rain warnings covering large parts of the UK on Sunday.
In a post on X, the weather agency shared an interactive map showing the spread of rain.
It added: “Wet and windy to kick off Friday.
“Heavy pulses of rain will be accompanied by gales around coasts and hills.”
Despite these wet conditions, one positive is that warmer weather is also on the way and temperatures could peak as high at 16C, the forecaster added.
A warning for rain has been issued from 6am until 6pm for south-west and north-east Scotland on Friday, with forecasters predicting travel disruption, power cuts, and flooding.
Another warning for strong winds runs from 8am until 3pm for south-west Scotland and West Wales on Friday, while a yellow wind warning will be in place in the east of Northern Ireland from 6am to 1pm.
Despite predicting a mild start to Friday, the Met Office warned of heavy pulses of rain accompanied by gales around coastal areas and hills.
In Scotland, ferry services from Dumfries and Galloway have been cancelled amid warnings of stormy weather.
Police Scotland said ferry sailings on Friday between Cairnryan and Northern Ireland have been cancelled as a result.
A spokesperson said: “Those booked on to any of the affected sailings are advised not to travel to the area due to the impending weather warning and delays are expected.
Calmac Ferries on Scotland’s west coast said all of its routes were either cancelled or facing disruption on Friday.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet said its sailings between the island and Heysham on Friday had been cancelled or were at risk and it was monitoring conditions throughout the weekend.
Met Office 5-day weather forecast
Today:
Rain, heavy at times, clearing eastwards, and replaced by sunny spells and scattered showers.
Windy with coastal gales, especially in the northwest with a risk of severe gales.
Milder than of late, although tempered somewhat by the windy conditions.
Tonight:
Any rain becoming confined to southeast England, with further heavy showers and strong winds in the northwest.
Dry elsewhere with clear spells, and remaining frost free.
Saturday:
A bright start for many with sunny spells and showers, mainly in the north and west.
Cloudier in the southeast to start with rain slowly clearing eastwards.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Wet and windy on Sunday with gales for many.
Drier on Monday and Tuesday with sunny spells and showers, these locally heavy and slow to clear at times. Mild.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: “On Friday, south and west Wales, south-west Scotland and eastern parts of Northern Ireland will see the strongest winds, possibly around 70mph on exposed coasts and around 60mph more widely within the warning areas.
“Rain is an additional hazard, with 30-40mm likely in parts of Scotland over a six-hour period, and up to around 70mm possible over higher ground within the warning areas.”
Saturday is expected to be a drier day across the country, but the South East may see the remnants of Friday’s rain drifting through during the day.
More rain and wind is expected from Sunday, according to the Met Office.
A yellow warning for wind is in place for Scotland, Wales and the north and west of England from 6am to 6pm on Sunday, with another running from 3am to 3pm in Northern Ireland.
Similar warnings for rain, which could lead to localised flooding and travel disruption are in place for south-west Scotland, much of South Wales and across Devon and parts of Cornwall from Sunday morning.
Mr Silverstone said: “The underlying factor in the shift in the UK’s weather is our transition from a cold easterly regime to more of a westerly regime.
“While this pushes away the colder air that has been affecting us, it also reintroduces Atlantic weather systems and the potential for areas of low pressure to influence the UK’s weather.”