Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop

A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued across the West Midlands, with forecasters warning of heavy downpours, lightning and possible hail.

The Met Office issued the warning at 9am on Friday, August 28, with Staffordshire, the West Midlands conurbation, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin among the areas affected.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during Friday afternoon and evening, although the Met Office says many places will avoid the worst of the weather.

The storms are initially expected to be concentrated across northern England and much of Wales during the early afternoon before spreading into central and eastern parts of England as the afternoon progresses.

Forecasters say some places could see between 10mm and 20mm of rain falling in a short space of time.

However, where thunderstorms repeatedly move across the same area, rainfall totals of between 30mm and 40mm are possible.

Lightning and hail could also accompany some of the heaviest showers.

The warning covers a large swathe of the country, stretching from Wales and the North West through the Midlands and into parts of eastern England.

In the West Midlands, the warning covers Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, the West Midlands conurbation, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Herefordshire.

Neighbouring parts of the East Midlands are also included, with Derbyshire, Leicestershire and other areas affected.

The Met Office expects the heavy showers and thunderstorms to gradually ease during Friday evening.