Met Office Saturday storm alert as 42 areas told to 'prepare emergency flood kit' - full list

Met Office Saturday storm alert as 42 areas told to 'prepare emergency flood kit' - full list The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for a swathe of England and Wales this afternoon and evening warning of "likely" flooding and damage to buildings from lightning strikes Brits have been warned to expect heavy thundery showers this afternoon, leading to possible flooding and power cuts, the Met Office has said. Transport disruptions are likely in affected areas, the forecaster said, with a yellow weather warning issued between noon and 9pm today. The yellow warning covers a swathe of southern and central England and parts of Wales, from Swansea and Bath in the west, stretching north-east over Birmingham, Oxford, Leicester, Peterborough and Norwich. Residents in these areas have been warned to prepare for as much as 30 mm in two to three hours, with hail and lightning as additional hazards. “Some flooding of a few homes and businesses likely, leading to some damage to buildings or structures,” the Met Office warning stated, adding: “Probably some damage to a few buildings and structures from lightning strikes”. Meanwhile the forecaster also said delays to train services are possible and some short-term loss of power and other services is “likely” for people living in the affected areas." “An area of heavy showers and thunderstorms will move across this region during the afternoon and early evening, affecting areas in the west first and moving progressively east towards evening with drier weather following,” residents were warned. “Some places could see 15-25 mm of rain in an hour, and 30 mm in two to three hours, with hail and lightning additional hazards.” People living in the affected areas have been advised to prepare a flood kit and preparing items in advance in case of power cuts such as gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items. Regions and local authorities affected: East Midlands - Leicester - Leicestershire - Lincolnshire - Northamptonshire - Nottinghamshire - Rutland East of England - Bedford - Cambridgeshire - Central Bedfordshire - Norfolk - Peterborough - Suffolk London & South East England - Buckinghamshire - Milton Keynes - Oxfordshire South West England - Bath and North East Somerset - Bristol - Gloucestershire - North Somerset - Somerset - South Gloucestershire - Swindon - Wiltshire Wales - Blaenau Gwent - Bridgend - Caerphilly - Cardiff - Carmarthenshire - Merthyr Tydfil - Monmouthshire - Neath Port Talbot - Newport - Powys - Rhondda Cynon Taf - Swansea - Torfaen - Vale of Glamorgan West Midlands - Herefordshire - Staffordshire - Warwickshire - West Midlands Conurbation - Worcestershire