Lead weather presenter
PA MediaAn amber weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued by the Met Office for parts of eastern and south-eastern England.
The area affected stretches from Eastbourne, Sussex, in the south up to Cromer in north Norfolk, from 20:00 BST to 05:00 on Saturday.
Flooding of homes and power cuts are likely, as are cancellations to train and bus services and difficult road conditions.
It comes as Friday could break the record for the hottest day of the year so far.
With a low possibility of reaching 30C (86F) around the Norwich area, it could become the hottest day of 2025, exceeding the 29.3C recorded in Kew, London, on 1 May.
The Met Office said some places within the area covered by its amber warning could see 30-50mm of rain and winds in excess of 40-50mph.
Frequent lighting and intense downpours will lead to flash flooding.
It warned fast flowing or deep floodwater is likely, causing danger to life.
The Met Office said people in the affected areas should prepare to avoid travelling by road during potentially dangerous road conditions, drive cautiously if they must travel, and avoid floodwater where possible.
They should stay indoors as much as possible and consider checking on people they know who are vulnerable and may need support with food or medical supplies, it said.
Yellow weather warnings are also in force more generally across eastern and southern England and Wales where the thunderstorms could be just as severe but more localised.
Into Saturday there will be more showers and thunderstorms across western parts of England, Wales and into Scotland where there is a further yellow severe weather warning.
The yellow warnings for thunderstorms are in place in:
- South-west England and Wales from 14:00 to 23:59 on Friday
- Eastern and south-eastern England from 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Saturday
- Wales, western and northern England and Scotland from 00:00 to 18:00 on Saturday
The heat and humidity has been building gradually, especially across northern and eastern parts of England where temperatures are expected to peak on Friday afternoon.
While 30C could be reached in the Norwich area, more widely across East Anglia, eastern and south-east England, temperatures will be in the mid to high-twenties.
These temperatures are around 7 to 10C above average for the time of year.
With the rising humidity and heat, thunderstorms will bring the end to the hot spell.
Temperatures will be lower on Saturday with highs like low to mid-twenties across eastern England and high teens elsewhere.
