Yellow weather warning issued across Wales

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain across most of Wales.

This warning is expected to cause travel disruption and potential flooding in affected areas. The warning will be in place from 09:00 BST to 19:00 on Wednesday.

The Met Office has also advised of possible delays to public transport and the potential for short-term power cuts.

Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and hail, may result in rainfall accumulations of 20-25mm within an hour. Some locations could even experience up to 40mm of rainfall in a two to three-hour period.

The combination of these factors could lead to challenging driving conditions for holidaymakers across the UK.

Dan Suri, the Met Office's Chief Meteorologist, explained that an unusual area of low pressure for this time of year will move into Ireland during the early hours of Wednesday and continue across Wales and England throughout the day. This low-pressure system will also bring high winds, particularly in the south of the UK.

Meteorologist Ellie Wilson commented on the unseasonably windy conditions for the start of August but assured that thunderstorms are not unusual during this time of year. She emphasized the associated dangers of lightning and hail. In light of these weather conditions, road safety experts have advised drivers to exercise caution, especially when encountering patches of standing water.

RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis advises drivers to slow down and avoid standing water whenever possible to prevent losing control of their vehicles. Additionally, those towing caravans or carrying items on the roof should take extra care and ensure that everything is properly secured due to the strong winds expected along the southern coasts.

While the possibility of more settled weather increases in the second half of August, the Met Office warns that the risk of thundery showers will still remain. However, a prolonged or excessive heatwave is unlikely, with the chance of hot weather being lower than in previous Augusts.