Heavy rain and thunderstorms set to hit West Midlands - yellow weather warning issued across region

The West Midlands has begun two days of potentially wet and wild weather after yellow warnings for thunderstorms were announced.

The Met Office announced yellow warnings for thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday (August 26 and 27), warning of a small risk of flooding and disruption from thunderstorms.

It has warned of a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes or hail, as well as a possibility of delays and cancellations to train and bus services.

The Wednesday yellow warning began at 3am and is set to run until 10pm, while the Thursday warning is in place from 6am to 10pm.

A spokesman for the Met Office said about Wednesday: “A band of heavy showers and thunderstorms is expected to move northwards on Wednesday morning.

“A drier, brighter interlude may follow, but with a chance of further showers and thunderstorms breaking out during the afternoon.

“Many places will miss these, but where they do occur, they may be intense with 20-30mm rain falling in less than an hour and perhaps 40-50mm in 2-3 hours in a few spots, leading to some surface water flooding.

“Large hail and frequent lightning are also possible. The showers and thunderstorms will drift northwards and ease during the evening.”

For the Thursday alert, the Met Office said: “A band of thunderstorms and heavy rain will move north across England and Wales, perhaps becoming slow moving in the afternoon and evening.

“Accumulations of 20-30mm in three hours can be expected fairly widely and up to 50mm in a 12-hour period can be expected in places.

“There is a small chance that some places may see more than 50mm in three hours and more than 75mm through 12 hours, especially over east-facing high ground.

“Lightning and hail of 1-2cm will also be hazards.”

Temperatures will remain high despite the predicted heavy rain, with highs of 24°C (75.2°F) on Wednesday and up to 25°C (77°F) on Thursday.

The RAC said risks to drivers from slippery roads from rainfall are “much greater right now as a result of the prolonged dry spell”.

It added that oil, fuel and rubber deposits that have built up will now have been mixed together by light rain, instead of being washed away, which means drivers are at greater risk of skidding on greasy roads.

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “While slippery roads from rainfall is nothing new, the risks to drivers are much greater right now as a result of the prolonged dry spell.

“Oil, fuel and rubber deposits that have built up over many weeks will now have been mixed together by the light rain, instead of being washed away, which means drivers are at greater risk of skidding on greasy roads.

“If heavier rain arrives, motorists may have to contend with the danger of flash floods in some areas.

“For this reason, we urge drivers to reduce their speed in rainfall of any intensity and leave extra space behind the vehicle in front to reduce the chance of avoidable collisions.”

The Met Office said there are currently no plans to make the thunderstorms a named storm.