Met Office names areas facing lightning and hail on Wednesday – 33 counties at risk

Met Office names areas facing lightning and hail on Wednesday – 33 counties at risk Heavy rain and thunder is coming to some parts of the UK within hours, and Met Office weather forecasters even say lightning and hail are possible too Some parts of the UK face thundery rain, lightning and possibly even hail on Wednesday, the Met Office has said. Temperatures have dropped into the mid to low-20s across the board following last week's record-breaking 38C heat, with the scorching weather now making way for downpours in some regions. The Met Office says rain could impact several regions in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tomorrow - although the heaviest downpours are expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland - where lightning and hail are also on the cards. Speaking in this afternoon's Met Office video forecast, meteorologist Rachel Davis said for tomorrow morning: "Some heavier bursts [are expected] particularly across high ground in the north of England, where it will also be quite murky to start on Wednesday. "Some clearer spells across Wales and central parts of England into the early hours of Wednesday, but greater clear spells across Scotland where it could feel quite cool in places - particularly rural areas." Heavy showers are then expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland later in the day. She continued: "Rain across the south-east to start Wednesday morning, generally clearing away as we go into rush hour, a few showers starting to develop across England and Wales - but the heaviest and most frequent showers [later] on Wednesday will be across Scotland and Northern Ireland, where we could see some thunder, lightning and hail. “The best of the sunshine will be across England and Wales, particularly the further east you are on Wednesday, but still a chance of some heavy showers.” The Met Office forecast maps suggest 33 counties across Scotland and Northern Ireland could face thundery showers, lightning and hail tomorrow. UK counties facing thunder, lightning and hail on Wednesday Northern Ireland - Antrim - Armagh - Down - Fermanagh - Londonderry - Tyrone Scotland - Aberdeenshire - Angus - Argyllshire - Ayrshire - Banffshire - Buteshire - Caithness - Clackmannanshire - Dumfriesshire - Dunbartonshire - Fife - Inverness-shire - Kincardineshire - Kinross-shire - Kirkcudbrightshire - Lanarkshire - Midlothian - Moray - Nairnshire - Peeblesshire - Perthshire - Renfrewshire - Ross-shire - Stirlingshire - Sutherland - West Lothian - Wigtownshire BBC Weather forecast for Wednesday BBC Weather also suggests lightning and hail are on the cards tomorrow. Its forecast states: "Tomorrow, there will be a mixture of sunny spells, areas of variable cloud, and scattered showers. The showers will be heavy in the north with a chance of lightning and hail. Drier in the south." It adds for the rest of the week: "Thursday will be another day of sunny spells and scattered showers. The showers look to become locally heavy in the afternoon in the south, with a risk of thunder and hail. Friday will see a continuation of the sunny spells and showers."