“Intense” thunderstorms and heavy rain across much of England and Wales could cause travel disruption this week, forecasters have warned.
The Met Office said a band of heavy showers and thunderstorms is expected to move northwards on Wednesday morning.
The weather service said warm and humid conditions will bring an increasing chance of heavy showers, thunderstorms and longer spells of rain.
It follows hot weather across the UK which coincided with extremely dry conditions, with drought being declared in nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales.
The Met Office has previously said the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record after five heatwaves swept the country with temperatures of up to 38.1C recorded in London.
The RAC said risks to drivers from slippery roads from rainfall are “much greater right now as a result of the prolonged dry spell”.
It added that oil, fuel and rubber deposits that have built up will now have been mixed together by light rain, instead of being washed away, which means drivers are at greater risk of skidding on greasy roads.
Met Office chief forecaster Steve Willington said: “As we move into Wednesday there is a growing risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with warm and humid air helping to trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms.
“Some places could see significant amounts of rain falling in a short period of time, bringing the potential for localised flooding, travel disruption and frequent lightning.
“On Thursday, slow-moving heavy and thundery rain may bring prolonged rainfall to some areas, increasing the risk of localised impacts.
“There remains some uncertainty around where the heaviest rain will fall, so it is important to keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.”
A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued from 3am to 10pm on Wednesday across much of England including London and the South East, the Midlands, East Anglia, and parts of the North West, South West, as well as eastern parts of Wales.
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