Thunderstorms are expected to batter Greater Manchester this afternoon – with almost a month’s worth of rain predicted to fall in one day.
Heavy showers and possible thunder and lightning are expected across the region with a chance of localised flooding after the Met Office issued a yellow warning for the North West.
Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire East, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Merseyside and Warrington are also set to bear the brunt of the weather in the severe weather warning lasting from 10am until 8pm tonight.
The Met Office’s Chief Forecaster Eddie Carroll said: “A warm, unstable airmass will affect the area leading to heavy, slow moving showers and a risk of hail and thunderstorms.
“Rainfall of 20-30mm are likely locally, but could exceed 50mm.”
The average rainfall for Manchester is 68.9mm in the month of August.
With a ‘particularly volatile situation’ as former hurricane Bertha unsettles local weather patterns, there is also a yellow warning in place for Sunday.
The Met Office warned that the region will be rocked by heavy rain and strong winds of more than 60mph as the remains of Bertha make its way across the Atlantic before narrowly missing the UK.
But with the transition from tropical storm to extra-tropical is difficult to predict and Chief Forecaster Carroll said: “The system may pass harmlessly to the south of the country or spread heavy rain even further north, and the public are advised to keep up to date with warnings.”
Bertha left 150,000 homes without power in French Caribbean island of Martinique last week before causing damage to other islands in the region.
Image courtesy of Chris Koertgen, with thanks.
