Thunder and heavy rain forecast for Devon

A severe weather warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms has been issued for Devon today.

Persistent rain, locally very heavy, will spread across southwest England and south Wales today, whilst isolated severe thunderstorms may well develop further east bringing the risk of torrential downpours. Rain and showers will spread north through Friday night into Saturday morning, easing with time. 
   
Whilst most places will miss the heavier rain, the public should be aware that there is a chance of some very localised significant disruption, mainly from surface water flooding. Lightning and hail could also cause some impacts.

The Met Office's Chief Forcaster said: “An area of warm, humid, unstable air will move north across the region today and tonight.  

"Thunderstorms bring the potential for 20 to 30 mm falling within an hour or so, probably on a very localised basis and more likely roughly Dorset and Somerset eastwards to Home Counties. More persistent rain will give 10-20 mm quite widely over southwest England and south Wales with the risk of more than 40 mm locally.”

The regional outlook is as follows:

Today:
It will be a very warm, humid day across southern parts with an increasing risk of torrential, thundery downpours. Elsewhere, it will be largely fine with warm sunny spells, although patchy light rain in the far north will edge southeastwards.

Tonight:
Wet across many southern parts with heavy, and in places, thundery rain. However, this may ease across the far south. Areas of cloud and patchy rain will affect northern parts.

Saturday:
Persistent rain, heavy at first, will become slow-moving across some central parts whilst southernmost England will likely be drier with sunny spells. Much cooler with patchy rain in the north.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Cooler again on Sunday with outbreaks of rain continuing across central and southern parts and brighter conditions to the north. Sunny spells on Monday and Tuesday, but turning chilly overnight.