UK faces 'most explosive weather phenomenon' with thunder and lightning in days

UK faces 'most explosive weather phenomenon' with thunder and lightning in days A weather phenomenon described by the Met Office as the UK's 'most explosive' is on the cards in the coming days, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected The UK’s “most explosive weather phenomenon” could develop next week, bringing widespread thunderstorms across the UK. Temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days and peak around Wednesday, when the mercury should reach 28C. However, BBC Weather forecasters explain this will allow “low pressure and frontal systems to approach from the southwest”, which in turn could bring “thundery outbreaks” and lead to a “Spanish plume type of system” developing. The Met Office describes the Spanish plume as “the UK’s most explosive weather phenomenon”. It occurs when warm air moving northward from Spain rises and cools, leading to the formation of thunder clouds. “As cooler air spreads from the west, instability increases and the very warm air rises through the cooler air, enhancing the formation of thunderstorms,” the Met Office explains. The result is storms that can last for hours, bringing lightning, thunder, hail, downpours of rain and sometimes gusty winds to our shores. The UK experienced a series of Spanish plume events in July 2014. It led to more than 62,000 lightning strikes across five days, while some areas saw 45mm of rain over the course of just one hour. BBC Weather forecast The BBC Weather forecast says “sharp showers” could develop late on Monday in the south-west, becoming more widespread during Tuesday with “localised thunderstorms”. These thunderstorms are expected across England and Wales mainly, the forecast says. “Wednesday may start drier with warm sunshine but further scattered hefty showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop later and through Thursday, with some widespread heavy rain possible,” the BBC Weather forecast adds. Weather conditions are likely to remain unsettled during Friday and into the weekend too, while temperatures should ease towards the end of the week, remaining “near or above average”. Met Office weather forecast The Met Office also says thunderstorms are on the cards next week, with showers turning “widespread and heavy”. The Met Office forecast states: “Turning more unsettled from Tuesday with showers, thunderstorms and longer spells of rain moving northwards. “Temperatures continuing to rise slightly. Showers becoming increasing widespread and heavy on Wednesday and Thursday.”