Northern Ireland’s second heatwave of the summer is coming to an end with thunder already making its presence known in Co Tyrone.
This morning Mid Ulster council said: “While some places stay dry, hit-and-miss thunderstorms will develop today – hearing thunder in Cookstown now – potentially bringing disruption in places.”
A weather warning has been issued thunderstorms today and tomorrow with heavy rain, and lightning forecast in some areas.
In Northern Ireland, the Met Office’s yellow warning for thunderstorms is in place from 9am today to 11.59pm tomorrow.
Erin Wedlock and Tia Demirbas making the most of the weather at Helens Bay Beach on Saturday. Photograph by Declan Roughan / Press Eye
NI Direct warned of travel delays, difficult driving conditions, flooding and possible power cuts.
For those affected by flooding, the Flooding Incident Line number is 0300 2000 100.
In the calm before the storm, the highest temperature recorded in Northern Ireland on Friday was 28.5 degrees at Katesbridge while on Saturday it was very similar – 28.4 at Castlederg.
“It’s not always the case that heatwaves come to such an abrupt end.
“The heatwave in July swept away quite gently. This time we are more likely to see a more thundery, showery breakdown.”
Mr Stroud said that the yellow weather warning which ends on Monday night brought with it the prospect of heavy localised thundery showers, with 20 to 30 millimetres of rain falling in a relatively short period.
He said that in some places there was a risk of 50 millimetres falling in three to six hours which could give rise to flooding.