Southern parts of the UK could be hit by funnel clouds and even brief tornadoes, the Met Office has warned, as severe thunderstorms and heavy showers sweep across the region.
South East on Alert for Unusual Weather Phenomena
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said conditions in the atmosphere make it “not out of the question that we could see a funnel cloud, maybe even a brief tornado across parts of the South East.”
The warning comes as intense showers, lightning, and hail continue to affect southern counties, while northern regions enjoy clear skies and sunny spells in a marked North-South weather divide.
“Northern parts are enjoying fine, settled weather, but in the South, wet weather has pushed in and will bring showery bursts throughout the day,” Mr Burkill said.
UK Facing Driest Spring in Decades
The storms arrive after one of the driest starts to spring in almost 60 years. As of Friday, just 80.6mm of rainfall had been recorded across the UK, falling well short of the record low of 100.7mm set in 1852.
The Environment Agency has raised concerns that prolonged dry spells could lead to summer drought conditions, particularly if rainfall remains below seasonal averages into June and July.
What is a Funnel Cloud or Tornado?
A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air that extends from the base of a cloud but does not touch the ground. If it makes contact with the earth’s surface, it is officially classified as a tornado. The UK experiences several brief and localized tornadoes each year, though they are typically far weaker than those seen in other parts of the world such as the US.
Environment Agency: Prepare for Water Restrictions
Officials have warned that water supply challenges could emerge in the coming months. An Environment Agency spokesperson said:
“If current patterns continue, with periods of heavy rain followed by extended dry spells, we could face pressure on water supplies and elevated wildfire risks by late summer.”
Outlook
The Met Office expects thundery conditions to ease by Thursday, with more settled weather returning in the North and Midlands. However, isolated downpours and storms could persist in the South East into the weekend.
